Standby Generators in Vero Beach

Vero Beach owners who lived through the 2004 storms often want a standby generator, and island and mainland homes face different setups.

County: Indian River County
Permits: Usually the City of Vero Beach for addresses inside city limits, and Indian River County for unincorporated areas. Confirm for your address.

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne hit Indian River County hard in 2004, only weeks apart, and long outages followed. Since the city electric system moved to FPL at the end of 2018, all of Vero Beach is on FPL, but outage times still vary from street to street. A standby generator is most useful for homes with medical equipment, well pumps, elevators on the island, or seasonal homes where a long outage means mold.

Barrier island lots

On Orchid Island, many lots are in flood zones, and oceanfront lots may be seaward of the state Coastal Construction Control Line. In flood zones, the building office usually requires equipment like generators to sit above a set flood level, often on a raised platform. Work seaward of the control line can need state review. Salt spray also wears out generator enclosures, so placement on the sheltered side of the house and corrosion resistant enclosures matter.

Mainland lots and fuel

Natural gas service reaches parts of Vero Beach but not every neighborhood. Many homes use propane in a buried or above ground tank, which has setback rules from the house, property lines and openings. On mainland lots with septic systems, the tank and pad have to stay clear of the drain field, so know where your septic is before the site plan is drawn. Call 811 before anyone digs.

Permits and HOA rules

A generator usually needs an electrical permit and a gas permit for the fuel line. Inside city limits that goes to the City of Vero Beach Building Department, and in unincorporated areas the Indian River County Building Division. Indian River Shores and Orchid handle their own. Most gated communities here require architectural approval and screening, and may limit test run times. Exhaust must stay away from windows, doors and vents to keep carbon monoxide out.

For general sizing and cost information, see our generator guide and the Vero Beach area page. Related: electricians in Vero Beach and hurricane shutters in Vero Beach.

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 Vero Beach

Does an oceanfront Vero Beach generator need extra approvals?

It can. Oceanfront lots on Orchid Island may be seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line, where new structures and equipment pads can need state review. Many island lots are also in flood zones, where the generator has to sit above a set flood level. Ask the installer to check both before quoting, and confirm with the town or county building office.

Where should a generator go on a Vero Beach lot with septic?

Away from the septic tank and drain field, since a pad, propane tank or trench can damage them. The pad also needs clearance from windows, doors and vents for carbon monoxide safety, and propane tanks have setback rules. Find your septic system on your property records before the installer draws a site plan, and call 811 before digging.

What permits does a generator need in Indian River County?

Usually an electrical permit and a gas permit for the fuel line, and sometimes review of the tank. Inside Vero Beach city limits, the City of Vero Beach Building Department handles it. Unincorporated addresses go to the Indian River County Building Division, and Indian River Shores and Orchid have their own. The installer usually pulls them.

Is a generator worth it for a seasonal home in Vero Beach?

Many seasonal owners think so, because a long summer outage with nobody home means no AC and rising humidity, which can lead to mold. A generator with remote monitoring lets you know it ran. It still needs regular service, so ask the installer about a maintenance plan that covers the months you are away.

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

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