A temporary power pole runs a construction site off the utility grid before permanent service goes in, and San Rafael crews most often order a 200 amp temporary power pole for a single-family build or small commercial job. San Rafael Porta Pros coordinates delivery around your electrical inspection schedule so the pole is ready when the utility company is.
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or construction pole, is a metered load center mounted on a freestanding post that gives a job site legal power before the building has its own panel. Framers, electricians and anyone running saws or lights on site needs it early, because most jurisdictions will not energize a site without one. San Rafael projects usually need this in place before grading finishes and before temporary fencing and a light tower show up for night work. The pole itself holds the meter socket, breaker panel and grounding, and it has to match what the site actually draws, whether that is a small remodel or a full construction site services package with a storage container and roll-off dumpster on the same lot. Get the amperage wrong and the inspection stalls, which stalls everything behind it, including the porta john rental delivery scheduled around the same crew mobilization.
Temporary power pole installation cost is not in our measured pricing bands the way portable sanitation and dumpsters are, so we will not quote a number here that we cannot back. What we can say is that cost tracks amperage, the utility's meter spacing requirements and how far the pole sits from the transformer or service point. A 200 amp temporary power pole for a mid-size build in San Rafael typically costs more to install than a 100 amp pole for a small remodel, simply because the panel, wire gauge and inspection scope all scale up. If you are budgeting a full site setup, it helps to price the pole alongside the dumpster rental cost, septic tank pumping cost and storage container rental cost so the numbers land in one conversation instead of five.
Placement follows a temporary power pole diagram the utility or your electrician draws up, usually showing pole location, meter height, grounding rod position and clearance from the structure. San Rafael sites often set the pole near the property line closest to the utility's existing line, which keeps the run short and the install cheaper. Whoever sets your pole should also be thinking about the rest of the site plan: keep it clear of the swing path for a roll-off dumpster delivery, which needs about 60 feet of straight clearance behind the truck, and away from where a restroom trailer or ADA accessible porta potty will sit. OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection on construction sites, so confirm your temp pole panel is wired for GFCI before the first tool plugs in. Good lighting also matters once power is live; OSHA 1926.56(a) sets minimum illumination intensities for construction areas, which is worth checking if you are also renting a light tower for early morning or after-dark work.
Crews working sites near San Anselmo, 4.3 miles west of San Rafael, or Larkspur, 5.1 miles southwest, run the same pole-first sequencing before framing starts. If your project also needs sanitation, San Rafael Porta Pros can coordinate a standard porta potty rental or portable toilet rental delivery for the same site visit, and OSHA 1926.51(c) sets the toilet count you will need once the crew is on site working under power.
Installation itself is usually a half day to a full day once the utility approves the plan, but the utility's own scheduling window is often the longer wait. Book your electrician and the utility inspection early so the pole does not become the delay holding up the rest of your construction site services timeline.
Permitting for temporary power poles is handled through the city and the serving utility, and requirements vary by project scope, so this needs confirming directly with San Rafael before you schedule installation. Do not assume a small remodel is exempt just because the pole is temporary.
Amperage depends on what is running on site at once: saws, compressors, lighting and any trailer hookups all draw load. A 200 amp temporary power pole covers most single-family construction, but a small remodel with limited tool use may only need 100 amp service. Your electrician sizes it against the equipment list.
Temporary power poles are typically installed by a licensed electrician and tied to utility service, not rented as a standalone unit the way a roll-off dumpster or storage container is. San Rafael Porta Pros can still coordinate site logistics like fencing, sanitation and storage around your pole installation schedule.
Yes, once permanent service is connected and the final inspection passes, the temp pole comes down. Coordinate removal with your electrician so it lines up with the rest of your site teardown, including temporary fence rental pickup and final construction dumpster rental haul-off.
Yes. San Rafael Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across San Rafael and the surrounding metro, with same-day and next-day drop-off available on most orders.
Pricing depends on the unit and how long you need it. See our cost breakdown and request a free quote for an exact figure.
Standard rentals include scheduled service — a pump-out, a clean, a restock and fresh deodorizer. Busy or hot-weather sites can be serviced more often.
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