Standby Generators in Stuart

Stuart has seen direct hurricane hits, and many owners here want a standby generator. Where it can go and how it gets fueled depend on your street.

County: Martin County
Permits: Usually the City of Stuart for addresses inside city limits, and Martin County for unincorporated areas. Confirm for your address.

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne both came ashore near Stuart and Hutchinson Island in 2004, and long power outages from those storms are still why many Stuart owners look at standby generators. FPL serves the whole area, and restoration times vary by neighborhood, so the case for a generator is strongest for people with medical needs, well pumps, or homes that get hot and damp fast without AC.

Fuel: natural gas is not everywhere

Natural gas lines reach some parts of Stuart and Martin County but not many older neighborhoods or the island. Where gas is not available, a standby generator usually runs on propane from a tank buried in the yard or set above ground. Tanks have setback rules from the house, property lines and openings, which can be tight on small lots near downtown and Port Salerno. Ask the installer to show you on a site plan where the tank and unit would go.

Flood zones and the river

Much of the land near the St. Lucie River, the Manatee Pocket and Hutchinson Island sits in FEMA flood zones. In those zones, the building department usually wants mechanical and electrical equipment raised to a certain height above the expected flood level. That can mean a raised platform for the generator. Check your flood zone before you get quotes, so every contractor prices the same setup.

Permits, HOAs and placement

A standby generator usually needs an electrical permit, plus a gas permit for the fuel line. Inside Stuart city limits that goes to the City of Stuart Building Department, and in unincorporated Martin County to the Martin County Building Department. Sewall's Point handles its own. Many gated communities in the Stuart area also require architectural approval, screening with plants or a fence, and set rules on placement and weekly test run times. Exhaust has to stay clear of windows, doors and vents to keep carbon monoxide out of the house. Call 811 before anyone digs for a pad or a buried tank.

For general information on sizing and cost drivers, see our generator guide. See also Stuart, electricians in Stuart and hurricane shutters in Stuart.

Check before you hireGenerator installs involve electrical work and usually gas work, both licensed in Florida. Look up each license at myfloridalicense.com and ask for proof of insurance.

Standby generators questions in Stuart

Can I get natural gas for a generator in Stuart?

Maybe. Natural gas service reaches some parts of Stuart and Martin County, but many older neighborhoods and Hutchinson Island do not have it. If gas is not at your street, the usual choice is propane in a buried or above ground tank. Ask the installer to confirm gas availability at your address before they size the system around it.

Does my generator need to be raised if I live near the St. Lucie River?

If your home is in a FEMA flood zone, the building department will often require equipment like a generator to sit above a set flood level. That can mean a raised pad or platform. Look up your flood zone first, and ask the City of Stuart or Martin County Building Department, depending on your address, what height applies to your lot.

What permits does a standby generator need in Martin County?

Usually an electrical permit, and a gas permit for the propane or natural gas line. The tank may also need its own review. Inside city limits that is the City of Stuart Building Department, and for unincorporated addresses the Martin County Building Department. The installer usually handles permits, but ask to see them and make sure the final inspection happens.

Will my Stuart HOA let me put in a generator?

Most allow them, but many require approval of the location, screening with landscaping or a fence, and sometimes limit when the weekly self test runs. Some condo associations do not allow individual generators at all. Get approval in writing before you sign a contract so you are not stuck with a deposit on a unit you cannot place.

For the general guide, see Standby generators on the Treasure Coast. For more about the town, see Stuart.

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