A temporary power pole, or temp stand, is the first piece of electrical work on most new builds: a post or pole with a meter socket, a disconnect and a few receptacles that powers the saws, lights and tools until the permanent service is ready. It is simple equipment, but it involves three parties, each with its own rules: the NEC for the wiring, the building department for the permit and inspection, and the utility for the stand and the connection. This guide covers all three for South Florida, using FPL's current standards.
The building department with jurisdiction over the site has the final word on permits and inspections; the South Florida electrical permits guide links each one.
What the NEC says about temporary power
Temporary wiring on a construction site falls under NEC Article 590, and Florida's current code adopts the 2020 NEC (FBC-Building Chapter 27). The basics builders should know (EC&M's guide to Article 590; the article is written on an earlier edition, so confirm details against the edition in force):
- Temporary wiring is removed when construction is complete, under Article 590 (EC&M's guide to Article 590).
- Branch circuits come from an approved power outlet or panelboard, and receptacles are the grounding type (EC&M's guide to Article 590).
- Article 590 requires GFCI protection for personnel on temporary receptacles (EC&M's guide to Article 590).
In practice that means the stand has a proper panel or disconnect with breakers, GFCI protection on the receptacles, and a grounding electrode, and it comes out once the permanent service takes over.
Permits: who issues the temporary power permit
Unincorporated Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County says that temporary power for construction or for testing electrical systems requires a master permit. Temp for Construction (category 14) allows temporary power on site for building the structure. A temporary power permit needs its own Building Permit Application (the yellow form) with the electrical category for temporary service selected, an Electrical Fee Sheet, and the matching affidavit, and a copy of the affidavit has to be kept at the job site. The county also warns that if the application is not renewed or a certificate of occupancy obtained within the allowed timeframe, the electric service will be disconnected without notice (Miami-Dade electrical permits). How the electrical work relates to the master permit is covered in master permit vs electrical sub-permit.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale lists a stand-alone temporary pole among its walk-thru electrical permits, alongside residential permits and service change or repair, and uses the Broward County Uniform Permit Application (Fort Lauderdale permitting services). Applications run through LauderBuild (Fort Lauderdale LauderBuild).
Palm Beach County and other cities
Unincorporated Palm Beach County has a Temporary Power inspection (code 207) and a Pole Base inspection (code 212) on its electrical list (Palm Beach County inspection codes). Other cities set their own requirements; ask the building department for the address before ordering the stand.
The inspection
In Miami-Dade the temporary inspection is code 012, Temporary for Construction (Miami-Dade inspection codes), requested online or at 786-315-2100 by 4 p.m. the business day before (Miami-Dade inspections). In unincorporated Palm Beach County it is 207 Temporary Power. The inspector checks the stand and its wiring as built; FPL connects only after the inspection is done. Where temp power sits in the full sequence is covered in the electrical inspection sequence for new construction.
FPL: getting the stand connected
FPL can install temporary electric service when the right lines, transformers or other equipment are at the site. The request is a project application for temporary power in FPL's Project Portal, and FPL says a project manager is assigned within two days (FPL, how it works). Before FPL runs the service, its standards require the electrical inspection, any tree trimming or grading the customer is responsible for, and payment of the deposit and the non-refundable temporary service charge (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
FPL's overhead temporary stand requirements
FPL's standards show a typical overhead temporary/construction stand and list minimum requirements. From the August 2026 edition (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026):
- The service pole cannot be within 25 feet of a swimming pool, and it has to meet FPL's vertical clearance figure (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- Timbers must be unspliced: at least 16 feet for the 4x4 posts and 12 feet for the 2x4 braces, fastened with 10d nails (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- The brace is installed between 8 and 10 feet above the ground (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- The weatherhead cannot be higher than the 4x4 post, and the post extends at least 6 inches past the weatherhead (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- Stakes supporting the stand are at least 2x4 and driven at least 24 inches deep (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- Where the inspecting authority accepts it, an 18-foot treated pole with at least a 5-inch top can replace the 4x4 and braces if set 5 feet deep and well tamped. FPL notes that leaves 13 feet above ground, which works for pedestrian areas but not over a driveway (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- Special arrangements with FPL are needed if the service drop exceeds 80 feet, if the attachment is above 16 feet at a location bucket trucks cannot reach, or if the service is larger than 200 amps (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- For inaccessible locations the attachment point cannot exceed 16 feet; FPL prefers 12 feet where clearances allow (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- The stand is no more than 20 feet from the base of the FPL pole, and the ground around it is compacted and level (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- The drip loop is at least 10 feet above the ground, and the ground rod is driven at least 8 feet (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
- The meter socket is mounted plumb, and the meter enclosure must be on FPL's approved list (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
FPL calls these minimum typical requirements and says that where local code is more stringent, the local code applies (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
Underground temporary service
Where the site is fed from an underground system, FPL's figure shows the customer's meter socket and weatherproof switch on a treated 4x4 post or angle support near the pad-mounted transformer or service handhole. The customer leaves a five-foot length of service conductor above ground for FPL to connect, keeps the temporary service outside the utility easement so the ground rod is not driven into existing cables, and uses a meter enclosure from FPL's approved list. As with overhead service, FPL connects only after the electrical inspection and payment of the deposit and temporary service charge (FPL Electric Service Standards, August 2026).
Using the permanent socket for construction power
On some jobs, construction power is taken from the permanent meter socket instead of a separate stand. FPL's 2023 standards describe these arrangements (TOP and TUG) as using the permanent socket for construction power after the temporary inspection (FPL Electric Service Standards, 2023 edition); check the current edition and your project manager before planning on it. Palm Beach County has a matching inspection, 220 Rough Electric with TUG (Palm Beach County inspection codes). The permanent side is covered in FPL's new construction service process.
Homestead and Lake Worth Beach
Not every South Florida site is FPL territory. Homestead's HPS Energy (City of Homestead) and Lake Worth Beach (Lake Worth Beach utilities) run their own electric utilities, with their own requirements for temporary service. Confirm the utility before ordering a stand.
Questions builders ask
Can the temp pole go up before the building permit is issued?
Not in Miami-Dade, where temporary power requires a master permit. Elsewhere, ask the building department; Fort Lauderdale offers a stand-alone temporary pole permit.
Who provides the pole?
The customer. FPL provides the meter and makes the connection; the stand, socket, disconnect, receptacles and grounding are the customer's side, built by the electrical contractor.
When does the temp stand come out?
When the permanent service is energized and construction no longer needs it. Article 590 treats temporary wiring as something removed at completion (EC&M's guide to Article 590).
What if the inspection fails?
The corrections are made and a re-inspection is requested, and FPL waits for the approval. See what to do after a failed electrical inspection.
Need construction power?
KRW Electric (EC13012832) handles temporary power, the permit and the inspection on our new construction jobs across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. For the full scope on a home, see residential new construction electrical. Send us the site plan or call (305) 359-7312.
Reviewed by Kyle White, KRW Electric Company LLC — licensed electrical contractor EC13012832.
