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A whole-home generator installation follows a set order: size the unit for your house, pick and prep a location, pull permits, pour a pad, run a gas line, wire in a transfer switch, then inspect and start it up. Most of the work is done by two licensed trades working together: an electrician for the sizing, wiring, and transfer switch, and a licensed plumber for the gas line, with the local building department signing off before you ever flip it on. Here’s what each step actually involves.

Step 1: Load calculation and sizing

Before anyone picks a generator model, an electrician runs a load calculation on your home: what you want to keep running during an outage (HVAC, well pump, refrigerator, a few circuits) versus a full whole-house backup. This determines the generator’s output in kilowatts and whether you need load management to run larger appliances without oversizing the unit. Guessing at size here is the most common installation mistake: too small and it trips or struggles under load, too large and you’ve overpaid for capacity you don’t need. If you’re not sure where you land, our guide on what size generator you need walks through it in more detail.

Step 2: Site placement and clearances

The generator needs a spot with enough clearance to run safely and to service later. Most manufacturers require several feet of open space around the sides and top for airflow, roughly 18 inches of clearance behind the unit from a wall, and at least 5 feet from any window, door, or fresh-air intake so exhaust doesn’t drift back into the house. It also needs to sit on level, stable ground, reasonably close to both the gas meter and the electrical panel to keep line runs short. Your electrician and plumber will walk the property together before anything gets ordered.

Do you need permits for a generator installation?

Yes. In Fort Worth, a standby generator install typically needs an electrical permit through the city’s Development Services Department, and a separate permit for the gas line work. Permit requirements vary by city, so if you’re outside Fort Worth proper, your contractor should confirm what your local building department requires before work starts. A licensed contractor will normally pull these permits as part of the job rather than leaving it to you.

Step 3: The pad and the gas line

The generator sits on a dedicated pad, either poured concrete or a manufacturer-approved composite pad rated for the unit’s weight. The pad needs to be level and set above expected water pooling, which matters in Texas given how much rain some neighborhoods see in short bursts. Concrete needs time to cure before the generator can be set on it, which is usually the longest single wait in the whole process. Around the same time, the gas line gets run: standby generators burn natural gas or propane, and the line has to be sized correctly so the unit gets enough fuel pressure under load. In Texas, only a licensed plumber can legally install or extend a gas line, including the one feeding a generator, so this part of the job is handled by a plumbing trade even though an electrician typically manages the overall project. It also needs its own permit and inspection before the line can be connected.

Step 4: Transfer switch and electrical wiring

This is the electrician’s core piece of the job: running conductors from the generator to a transfer switch, and wiring the transfer switch into your electrical panel. The transfer switch is what isolates your home’s wiring from the utility grid the instant the generator kicks on, and it’s not optional for a hardwired generator. If you’re wondering why that piece matters so much, see our answer on whether a generator needs a transfer switch. Most residential installs use an automatic transfer switch, which senses a utility outage and starts the generator without you doing anything.

Step 5: Inspection, startup, and commissioning

Once the pad, gas line, and wiring are in place, the local building department inspects the install before it’s approved to run. After it passes, the electrician does the startup: firing the generator, testing it under load, confirming the transfer switch cuts over and back cleanly, and setting up the weekly self-test cycle most standby units run automatically to keep the battery charged and the engine ready.

How long does the whole process take?

Plan on a few weeks from signed contract to a running generator, most of it spent waiting on permit approval and concrete cure time rather than active labor. The hands-on work itself, setting the pad, running the gas line, wiring the transfer switch, and startup, is often done across just a couple of on-site visits. Permitting timelines shift with how busy the local building department is, so ask your electrician for a realistic schedule once they’ve seen your property.

When to call a licensed electrician

Whole-home generator installs touch your electrical panel, your gas supply, and a structural pad all at once, which is why it isn’t a DIY project even for handy homeowners. Bring in a licensed electrician as soon as you’re seriously considering a standby generator, before you buy a specific model. Sizing, placement, and the gas and electrical coordination all go smoother when they’re planned together from the start instead of retrofitted around a generator you already own. If cost is the open question, our whole-house generator cost guide covers typical ranges.

Neighbors Electric is a licensed electrical contractor (TECL #41555) based in Crowley, serving Fort Worth and the surrounding DFW area, and whole-home generator installation is work we handle start to finish, including coordinating the permits and the gas line trade. Call (817) 533-0943 or reach out online to get a flat-rate quote for your property.

Related electrical services

Need this handled? Neighbors Electric provides these services across Fort Worth and DFW:

• Whole-Home Generator Installation
• Generator Repair
• Electrical Panel Upgrades