Before ordering a generator, establish whether the property can support the backup system you want. The decision involves an acceptable outdoor location, a workable electrical connection, adequate fuel supply and the approvals required for that address. This guide helps you prepare a feasibility assessment. Once those decisions are made, use the whole-house standby installation guide for the work sequence, inspection and handoff.
First choose the kind of installation you need
| Backup option | Feasibility question to resolve first |
|---|---|
| Permanently installed automatic standby | Can the property accommodate the generator, fuel system and compatible automatic transfer equipment? |
| Standby with selected circuits or load management | Which loads must operate, and which can be excluded or delayed within an agreed design? |
| Portable generator with an approved house connection | Is there a safe outdoor operating location and a qualified electrician's connection design, plus someone available to operate it? |
If you have not chosen the backup type, start with standby versus portable. For a portable house connection, use the portable hookup guide. Do not apply a portable's operating instructions to a permanent standby installation, or the reverse.
Placement: assess the property, not just the distance to one wall
Bring a sketch or photos showing possible generator locations, doors, windows, vents, nearby structures, property boundaries, service equipment and the proposed fuel route. Note drainage, flood exposure, snow accumulation, landscaping, access for maintenance and any easements or association restrictions you know about. The installer must determine which conditions affect the design and which authority has to approve them.
A single advertised wall clearance is not approval for the whole site. Generac's clearance guidance distinguishes openings, overhead space and service access, limits reduced wall clearance to specifically identified equipment, and tells installers to use the model's installation manual and local requirements.[3] Ask for the exact model's layout and the applicable local determination, not a generic distance copied from another installation.
Use the placement and clearance guide for the detailed siting questions. For a portable alternative, CPSC's separate guidance is outside use at least 20 feet from homes with exhaust facing away, never in a home or garage even with openings left open.[2]
Permits and approvals: name the authority and the responsible person
Ask the local building or permitting authority which approvals your specific project needs and whether electrical, fuel, site or other work is reviewed separately. Also ask whether the utility, fuel supplier or homeowners association has a separate approval process. A contractor's familiarity with a neighbouring city does not establish the rules for your address.
Record four things before signing: the authority or organisation, the required submission, the person responsible for it and what proves completion. Have the contract explain who pays fees, schedules inspections and corrects work if an inspection identifies a problem. Use the permit guide for that workflow; use installer licensing requirements and the credential verification guide to check the people doing the regulated work. This page does not grant approval or supply a nationwide permit exemption.
Electrical feasibility: define what the house will receive
Prepare your essential-load list with the sizing calculator. Ask the electrician to assess the service and panel arrangement, proposed transfer equipment, backed-up circuits and any required upgrades. A whole-panel connection should not be interpreted as a promise that every appliance can run together. Get any load-management limits in writing.
The transfer-switch guide explains the equipment decision. Generac's represented owner's manual explicitly requires code-compliant installation and trained, licensed electrical work; use the actual equipment documentation for the final design.[5] Do not open service equipment or improvise a connection to test feasibility yourself.
Fuel feasibility: confirm the available supply
For natural gas, ask who verifies pressure and capacity for the generator alongside existing appliances, and whether meter, utility or pipe work is required. For propane, ask the supplier to assess the tank, regulator, delivery capability and refill plan for the intended load and outage duration. The presence of a gas meter or propane tank is a starting point, not confirmation that it can support the project.
Use the gas-line guide, propane tank guide and fuel comparison to prepare that discussion. Request written inclusions and exclusions for any supply upgrade.
Leave the assessment with a decision, not an unexplained quote
A useful site assessment returns a proposed backup architecture, acceptable location, load plan, fuel plan, approval responsibilities and outstanding conditions. Ask the provider to label the project as ready for a priced scope, feasible only after specified changes, or unresolved pending an authority or supplier decision. These are planning outcomes, not official approval categories.
Then compare the written scope with the installation quote checklist. The installer versus electrician guide helps identify who coordinates each trade; the installer-selection guide covers qualification. Browse providers and confirm service at your address, or use the Houston directory if that is your project area. Do not infer licensing, current availability or manufacturer authorisation from a listing alone.
When feasibility is resolved, continue to the standby installation process and handoff. Keep the approved location, design and scope together so later substitutions can be checked before work proceeds.
Sources
[2] https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center [3] https://support.generac.com/s/article/What-Should-I-Know-About-Clearance-Requirements-When-Installing-My-Generator [5] https://www.generac.com/globalassets/products/residential/standby-generators/owners-manual/g-10-22kw-60hz-standby-generator-owners-manual-en.pdf