A permanently installed standby generator with an automatic transfer switch requires an electrical permit in Georgia — and, when the unit runs on natural gas or propane, usually a separate gas/mechanical permit for the fuel line. Fees typically run $60–$175 for the electrical permit, approval is two to seven business days (longer where plan review applies), and the job needs an electrical final plus a separate gas/mechanical inspection where a fuel line is involved.
When does a standby generator need a permit?
Any permanently wired standby generator and transfer switch needs an electrical permit. The moment you hardwire a generator into the home's electrical system through an automatic or manual transfer switch, it's permitted electrical work. Portable generators with a plug-in inlet are a different, narrower case by jurisdiction — but a fixed Generac-style whole-home unit is squarely permit territory.
The companion gas/mechanical permit
Most whole-home standby generators run on natural gas or propane, which means a fuel line — and many jurisdictions require a separate mechanical/gas permit for that line. "Missing the companion gas permit" is a common rejection. As an electrician you may be handling the electrical side while a plumber or gas fitter handles the fuel line, so coordinate who's pulling which permit before the job starts.
Typical scope of a permitted generator install
- Generator set on a pad with a disconnect.
- An automatic or manual transfer switch.
- Branch/feeder wiring and bonding to the electrical system.
- Coordination with a gas permit where a fuel line is involved.
Inspections, fees, and timeline
| Item | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical permit fee | $60–$175 | Verify on the issued permit. |
| Gas/mechanical permit | Separate fee | When a fuel line is involved. |
| Approval timeline | 2–7 business days | Longer where plan review applies. |
| Inspections | Electrical final + gas/mechanical | Two inspections on a gas unit. |
Don't forget the setback and placement detail
Generators have placement rules — clearances from windows, doors, and property lines, plus manufacturer setbacks. Many jurisdictions want a placement/setback detail on the application, and leaving it off is a rejection trigger. A simple site sketch showing the pad location and clearances usually does the job.
Let PullPermits.ai pull it for you
Generator installs are a two-permit dance. In the City of Atlanta (more of metro Atlanta is rolling out), PullPermits.ai handles the electrical side: you describe the install — generator size, transfer switch type, fuel source — and it drafts the electrical permit on the city's own form and asks for any detail it still needs. You review the preview with the fee and tap Approve & File. PullPermits.ai files it and tracks it; the gas/mechanical permit stays with your plumbing or mechanical contractor. You pay each fee directly on the jurisdiction's own payment page, at exact cost. You stay the named, licensed applicant — you approve, we file.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a permit to install a standby generator in Georgia?
- Yes. Any permanently wired standby generator and transfer switch requires an electrical permit, and a gas-fueled unit usually requires a separate gas/mechanical permit for the fuel line.
- Do I need a separate gas permit for a generator?
- Usually, when the generator runs on natural gas or propane. Many jurisdictions require a separate mechanical/gas permit for the fuel line, and missing it is a common rejection.
- How much is a generator permit in Georgia?
- The electrical permit typically runs $60–$175, with a separate fee for the gas/mechanical permit where a fuel line is involved. You pay every fee directly, at cost.
- What inspections does a standby generator need?
- An electrical final, plus a separate gas/mechanical inspection where a fuel line is involved.