What is a temporary power pole?
A temporary power pole, sometimes called a temp pole or construction power pole, is a freestanding post with a meter socket, breaker panel and outlets that gives a job site power before the building has permanent utility service. It is not something East Los Angeles Porta Pros installs. We show up on the same sites, though, dropping porta john rental units and standard porta potty rental next to the pole location during grading and framing. A licensed electrician sizes the pole, usually to 200 amp for a mid-size build, and the utility or city inspector signs off before the panel is energized. If your project also needs temporary fence rental around the pole and panel for safety, that is something we do handle, along with light tower rental for the same laydown yard.
How much does temporary power pole installation cost?
Installation cost depends on amperage, trenching distance and how far the pole sits from the point of utility connection, and that number comes from your electrician, not from us. What we can quote directly is everything else on the pad: portable toilets, fencing and dumpsters priced by the day, week or month.
| item | day | week | month |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard portable toilet | 100-350 | 130-500 | 125-325 |
| temporary fence panel | 30-75 | -- | -- |
| 10-20 yard dumpster | 51-112 | 426-778 | 91-500 |
See porta potty rental cost and temporary fence cost for the full breakdown, or check dumpster rental cost if you are clearing brush or old wiring before the pole goes in. A construction dumpster rental usually sits near the pole location so crews are not hauling debris across the site.
Where should a temporary power pole go on site?
Placement is an electrician's call, driven by proximity to the utility transformer and site access, but the same logistics that govern porta potty placement apply. OSHA 1926.51(c) sets toilet ratios by crew size, one unit for crews of 20 or fewer, so we plan restroom count the same week the pole location gets staked. If your pole sits near a trailer office, pair it with handwashing station rental or a portable sink rental so 29 CFR 1910.141(d)(2) soap and towel requirements are covered on site. Crews doing painting or coating work near the panel enclosure fall under OSHA 1926.51(f)(1) for washing facilities. We serve East Los Angeles directly and run into Monterey Park, 2.7 miles northeast, and Alhambra, 5.0 miles northeast, on a regular week, so equipment often moves between sites on the same route. For general layout thinking, our porta potty placement guide and how many porta potties do I need pages walk through spacing relative to work zones, trailers and power drops.
For a full look at everything else a build needs beyond the pole itself, see construction site services or start from porta potty rental in East Los Angeles, CA, the hub page for this market. Bigger sites in East Los Angeles often add a mobile office trailer rental or storage container rental near the pole for tools and paperwork, and a temporary power pole plus a roll-off dumpster rental tend to get scheduled for the same delivery day.
Does East Los Angeles Porta Pros install temporary power poles?
No. We supply portable toilets, fencing, dumpsters and related site equipment, not electrical service. A licensed electrician or the utility handles pole sizing, wiring and inspection. We coordinate delivery of our own equipment around your pole schedule so nothing blocks the trenching or panel access.
What amperage does a construction temporary power pole need?
That depends on your load, tools and trailer count, and your electrician calculates it. A 200 amp service is common on mid-size builds. Talk to whoever pulls your electrical permit before ordering equipment for the pad.
Can I get a temporary power pole diagram from you?
No, diagrams and load calculations come from your electrician or the utility company. What we can lay out is restroom and fencing placement relative to your pole location so crews have clear paths.
How far in advance should I schedule equipment around a power pole install?
Order portable toilets, fencing and dumpsters as soon as your pole location is staked. Utility scheduling can push timelines, and coordinating our delivery with electrical work avoids blocked access. Request a quote once your site plan is set.
Do I need a permit for a temporary power pole?
Permit requirements come from the city or utility, and that needs confirming directly with them for your project. We cannot state permit rules here. Our porta potty permit requirements page covers a related but separate topic: restroom placement.
Next step
Get a delivery date
Tell us the address, the dates and the headcount. We size the order and confirm the route.