Does Your Condo Association Permit Unit Owners To Have Electric Generators?
We have had a couple of questions from Connecticut condo owners about whether they are allowed to use electric generators in case of outages.
Does your association permit them? If so, what restrictions and requirements does it have?
If your complex has individual generators, have they caused any problems?
I think that multi family dwellings should not allow generators. I will not put my health and life in someone’s else’s hands. Most people have no clue about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. I will not tolerate anyone living near me using one at all. I encourage others to do the same. Also there is the noise issue. Who wants to hear that and smell fumes all day and night. It’s not worth the risk just for a couple of days without power. My condo assoc does not allow it and I support the decision fully. If you want a generator go buy your own house first.
Several replies here blur the distinction between what individuals want and what condo documents allow. To be clear, if someone wants to use a generator in his or her own space, and there is no restriction imposed by law, ordinance, or condo policy, an individual in a different space doesn’t get any say in the matter. For most fuel-based generators, the imposition of restrictions is likely to come on the basis of noise.
Will wait to see you after 10 days without power begging to someone for some extension cord for your fridge or something more important. I would like to watch.
I disagree with you. Should be ok depending on the condo to have a generator (like a A/C) installed by a licensed electrian. In this day and age there are generators that are quiet and will not put your health at risk if installed properly outside! Someone in a condo could also tell you to buy your own home if you do not want to have a generator installed at the condo. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I agree. With latest technology, generators are greatly improved for sound and safety. And just like a central air a/c unit professionally installed outside my condo unit, a whole house generator should be accepted as well. My condo runs on natural gas therefore this type of generator that runs on natural gas would be no different safety wise than my a/c unit. Of course have it professionally installed. As soon as the generator detects an outage, its powered on and my home not compromised. Well worth the investment. Yet needs to be approved by condo association.
As the president of a small, 48-unit complex, my self and our BOD made a hard stand against generators before Sandy. We saw it as too much of a safety risk. Due to the construction of our buildings there is a large overhang which has will trap the CO emitted from the generators. We had one owed testing one a little over a year ago and his neighbor had to leave his home while the exhaust fumes left the building. After this we had to take a stand and it has done nothing but cause arguments. Unfortunately if they violate the policy there is little we can do. We can fine them, but legally we can’t touch the generator of take it away. I have a feeling in the future this will be more of a fight than it might be worth.
We had considerable discussion about generators in our association – the old guard establishment (the ones who are always against everything said no to any generators until I sent an inquiry to my state rep who quoted a state statute that says it is ILLEGAL to prevent a homeowner or anyone from activity that makes them safe in their own home during a state of emergency – we just put common sense guidelines on use such as complying with manufacturers guidleines and getting a permit if the person was hooking it into the power grid.
This is a follow up to my previous reply. To: Kevin Kelleher; It would be great if you could get the ID of the State Statue that you mentioned. I’d like to present it to my Board. Thanks.
Can get have a copy of the state statue thats says it’s illegal to trevent a homeowner from activity that makes them safe in their home and a copy of the common sense guideline we are going through the same thing
WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN??
Connecticut
We have a number of homes that use generators when there is a power outage. There have been no problems but our condo is made up of stand alone homes with sufficient space around them to create less of a direct impact on others. However the noise is a problem and the proper installation is an issue. Safety has to be the number one concern.
Where they are allowed, there should be limits on the length of time that they can be run and limits on the noise level. It is certainly a contentious issue when they are used and hopefully that is not often.
I have been asking my Board since November, 2011 for guidelines and permission to install a portable power generator. At each monthly Board meeting this is another excuse why a ruling has not been made. Noise is not a vailable factor. My neighbor’s son has a whole house generator in a neighboring town. She tells me that it sounds like a lawn mower, 3 blocks away! They don’t have to run 24/7. Your furnace and refrigerator don’t run continuesly. An hour in the morning, and again perhaps in the afternoon, if you’re not at work, and an hour in the evening. They can be placed in ones driveway which, yes, is common property, but LIMITED common property. Limited to my exclusive use. Check your by-laws!
There are several holes under the deck from planks going in to the foundation. We recently found out that rats are getting in and destroying wires, etc. Is there any statutes stating that the Association is responsible to fix it? We have a pest contol company in and it will cost several hundred dollars. Need to know our rights and backup for them.
In the event of an EMERGENCY, and the proper safety rules are followed, the state approves the use of a generator so why not a condo? If the quality of life is jeopardized during this time it certainly would be
needed. Maybe a waiver can be used to insure any problems that may occur. I am sure users of generators do not want to jeopardize anyone’s safety.
They do not want or they don’t care? I suspect in most cases, applies the second point.
I always thought a generated is only on if there is an outage of power, so when is there noise at other times.
Can a generator be put in a garage with a connection to the outside? Or does it gave to be on the outside. I live in a 42 unit condo complex in Suffolk county.
Thank you
And now comes along the Tesla Powerwall concept. Things are starting to get very interesting!
I live in a 12-unit condo complex, in New York, bottom floor and became aware of indoor, solar power, back up generators, that are juiced by a battery(s) that is connected to your electrical panel and individualized for your needs. It is quiet and comes with two solar panels. 30% Federal discount. Worth Googling back up generators for condos.
Generator now are propane. Every year in Florida we are told to prepare for hurricanes. Since our condos have 4 propane grills outside why aren’t owners allowed to put propane generators on their porch as they only use them 4-5 hours at a time. As all condos we have volunteer boards where we have “condo commanders” who don’t allow us votes or even asking questions at the meetings so owners have stopped attending meetings. Yet, our management company who owners pay get their monies and even manage increase every year. Now I will go through HOA Ombudsmen to see where Propane generators stand..since our President changes the Rules & rulations to fit him.
My son has severe year round allergies and asthma that is not well controlled. He is home bound and we are unable to get an allergist to come to our house to treat him..we are looking to buy a townhouse because we will have to move from the house we are living in now. (my father did a reverse mortgage years ago and is 93 years old, when he dies, my son and I will have to leave) I paid to have a full house generator installed about 4 years ago. Due to limited income, I’ve been looking for a townhouse that would allow generators due to my son’s poor medical condition (he has a/c, large ionizer that runs in his bedroom and a humidifier). I was told they are a fire hazard and would not be allowed under any circumstances. I called the company that installed ours, and was told that a full house generator is not a fire hazard if installed by a reputable company. I’ve read comments about the noise and they are not very loud, I don’t know why noise is of a greater concern that a person’s health. My son is also a type 1 diabetic and needs to keep his insulin refrigerated. If power goes out for any length of time, the insulin will spoil. There are generators on the market today that are quieter, but they will never be allowed in townhouses was what the manager told me. I was told that if we were already living there, and my son developed these health problems, we would have to move out. This doesn’t even make sense…any answers?
You need to find a complex that allows for generators.
Hello, I have a question. Unfortunately our condo by laws do not speak to generators. Our buildings have 6 attached units per building. They are small bedroom units, approx 1200 sq ft, Our current rules allow for propane grills in the back of each on the tiny decks. We are prohibited from storing propane in our garages. The garages are detached from the living units, however there are 6 garages in each building, with 2 buildings facing each other with a common driveway area.
One of our unit owners has asked if they could install a portable gas generator. It will be stored in the garage until there is a power outage. It is EPA certified, has 9000 starting watts and 7250 running watts. The product overview for this generator states that it is capable of powering several homes during a power outage and job sites, food trucks and outdoor recreation. I am trying to determine how much gasoline is takes to run the generator, how often it needs to be refilled etc. My question is, what do you know about the safety of gas generators? Are there any rules about sorting them in a garage with gasoline? How safe wpuld it be to store these machines in a garage? any suggestions on who I could call for more information? What about noise levels? This seems to be 78 decibels. ( Is that a nuisance level for noise? I think FEMA guidelines require units to be running at least 20 feet from the building. That would place the unit is a heavily wooded area with multiple evergreen trees. Thank you in advance for any suggestions of where I can go to obtain information about the safety and legality of a generator like this? Thank you
state statutes are silent on this issue. my concern would be storing gasoline in the garage as well as people NOT running them in the garage but outside.
In most condominium or homeowners associations, the operating documents do not allow for portable generators to be used without the express consent of the Board. While portable generators may not be specifically mentioned in the documents, there are usually many provisions that would prohibit their use. Excellent explanation. Anyone can easily comprehend since it’s simple & focused. Keep up the great work!