A temporary power pole is the utility connection that brings grid power to a construction site before permanent service exists, usually rated at 200 amp for a typical build. Kirkland Porta Pros coordinates delivery and placement so your electrician and the utility can complete the hookup without delay.
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or construction pole, is a freestanding post with a meter base, breaker panel and outlets that lets a job site draw power before the permanent electrical service goes in. It's a bridge between an empty lot and a finished building. Crews plug in saws, lights and pumps straight off it. Kirkland Porta Pros sets these up alongside the rest of a job site package, from construction site services to the portable toilet rental most jobs need on day one. Pair it with a light tower rental for early-morning or winter work, since Kirkland job sites lose daylight fast in the colder months. If your project also needs staging for materials, a storage container rental or mobile office trailer rental usually goes up near the pole so the panel stays close to where crews are working.
Installation starts with a locate, a permit application, and a spot picked with your electrician and the utility. The pole gets set on a footing, wired to code, and inspected before the utility energizes it. Most Kirkland job sites also need temporary fence rental around the pole and panel, since an energized panel counts as an active hazard under general site housekeeping rules like OSHA 1926.25. GFCI protection matters here too: OSHA 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) covers ground fault interruption on construction power, which is why the panel and outlets on a temp pole need to be GFCI rated before any tool gets plugged in. Lighting around the pole and panel should meet the minimum illumination levels under OSHA 1926.56(a), especially if crews are working before sunrise. Kirkland Porta Pros can schedule the pole delivery around your roll-off dumpster rental drop or 10 yard dumpster rental so the site doesn't get crowded with deliveries on the same day.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and placement in the public right of way in Kirkland needs confirming with the city before you set anything at the curb. There's no substitute for a permit check here; a pole set in the wrong spot means a re-dig and a delayed inspection. Beyond the location question, most sites need a documented single-line diagram showing the meter, disconnect and panel, since inspectors want to see the load path before they sign off. If your crew count is high enough to trigger toilet ratios under OSHA 1926.51(c)(1), plan for both at once. A site running at 15 workers needs one toilet facility; cross 20 and the ratio shifts. Bundling the power pole order with a construction dumpster rental and a standard porta potty rental keeps your first inspection cleaner, since inspectors often look at the whole site, not just the panel. Crews working near Woodinville, about 7.8 miles northeast of Kirkland, or Bothell, 6.1 miles north, run into the same permit step, so don't assume a neighboring city's rule applies here.
Cost depends on amperage, trenching distance and inspection fees, none of which are in our measured price bands, so get a written quote from your electrician before budgeting. What we can quote directly are the site services around it: a porta potty rental cost page breaks down toilet pricing, and a temporary fence cost page covers fencing around the panel.
Likely yes, but permit rules are not something to guess at. Confirm with the city before you schedule the utility hookup. See our porta potty permit requirements page for how permitting works on the sanitation side, since the process often runs in parallel.
No, pole installation is electrical work handled by a licensed electrician and the utility. Kirkland Porta Pros coordinates the site logistics around it: fencing, lighting, storage and restrooms, all scheduled so the pole install isn't blocked by other deliveries.
Most residential and small commercial jobs run on a 200 amp temporary power pole, though larger builds may need more. Your electrician sizes this based on tools, trailers and lighting load. Check our how many porta potties do I need guide for a parallel sizing question on the sanitation side.
It typically stays until permanent service is energized and the final inspection clears, which can span the full length of a build. Coordinate its removal with your last roll-off dumpster rental pickup so the site clears out in one pass instead of several truck trips.
Yes. Kirkland Porta Pros delivers temporary power pole across Kirkland 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.
Call now or request a free quote — clean units, on-time delivery, transparent pricing.
