City home generator rules could be changing

By Grace Lovins

A new standby generator ordinance for single-family homes in Birmingham is heading to the city commission for approval after getting the green light from the city’s planning board during the Wednesday, February 12, meeting.

The push for standby generator regulations was brought to the planning board after the Birmingham fire department saw multiple close calls with carbon monoxide (CO) build-up in homes. Fire marshal Jeff Scaife noted when the item was first introduced to the board that the department has recorded over a dozen CO incidents involving generators in the past three years.

CO, an odorless, colorless gas, can be harmful to health, even with low level exposure. Per Scaife, there were three emergency calls where homes had deadly levels of CO build-up from generators in June 2024, with levels exceeding 100 parts per million. The World Health Organization recognizes that exposure can’t exceed 15 minutes when CO levels are between 90 and 100 parts per million, Scaife writes in the meeting packet memorandum.

Scaife, along with planning director Nick Dupuis, noted the goal of the ordinance was to ensure that generators are placed a safe distance away from homes as well as limit noise pollution.

The new ordinance considers standby generators an accessory structure. They may only be placed in the rear open space at least five feet from a principal building -- a house or building with habitable space.

Exhaust outlets must be directed to the rear open space and may not be pointed towards a principal structure or building with habitable space located within 20 feet. Dupuis stated the placement requirements apply to all properties, including corner lots.

Permitted use of a standby generator is limited to instances when the normal power source of a residence has been disrupted. Once the power is back on, generators must be turned off. Residents looking to install a standby generator must get a permit from the city to do so.

The planning board held multiple study sessions on the draft ordinance, beginning in November, to determine the language and content. As such, board members had little to add during Wednesday’s public hearing.

Board members voted unanimously, 6-0, to recommend approval of the ordinance to the city commission. Commissioners will make the final call on the matter following another hearing during a regular meeting.