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Electrical guide · GPM Electrical

Mobile Home Power Pole Requirements

A mobile home power pole is a post that holds the meter base, the main disconnect, and the connection point for your service. The requirements come from two places: your local power provider and your local electrical inspector. They overlap but are not the same, and both can turn you away. This guide covers what people commonly run into. Before you set anything, confirm the details with your power provider and the inspector who covers your address.

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By Nick Foster, GPM Electrical

Who decides the requirements?

The power provider cares about its side: where the meter goes, how the service attaches, what it can reach, and whether it will connect. The inspector cares about your side: the equipment, the grounding, how the wires are protected, and whether the installation is safe. Both have their own rules, and you need to satisfy both. Get their requirements before buying materials, because getting it wrong means redoing it.

What a power pole setup usually includes

  • A pole or post of a type and height your power provider accepts, set firmly in the ground.
  • A meter base that fits the provider’s meter and matches the size of the service.
  • A main disconnect or breaker that can shut off the whole service in one move.
  • A grounding system with rods and connections done to code.
  • Protected wiring from the pole to the home, whether in conduit overhead or buried.
  • Weatherproof outlets or a receptacle if the setup includes them, protected by the right type of breaker.

What about a 200-amp service?

Many people search for a 200-amp power pole for a mobile home. A 200-amp service is common today and gives a lot of room. But bigger is not always required. The right size depends on what the home runs, including electric heat, an electric range, a dryer, a well pump or a future addition. Sizing it correctly is part of the plan, and we go through it with you before work begins.

Common requirements people run into

These vary, so treat the list as things to ask about and not as a rulebook.

  • Distance from the home. Some providers or inspectors limit how far the pole can be from the home, or ask for it to be within sight of it.
  • Clearances. Wires and meters have to stay clear of trees, structures, driveways and roads. Where a line crosses a drive, height matters.
  • Accessible meter. The provider has to be able to reach the meter, so it generally cannot be fenced in or blocked.
  • Depth and bracing. A pole has to stand up to wind and weather, and the setting depth is often specified.
  • Grounding. Rods, clamps and wire all have to be done properly, and inspectors check them.
  • Labeling. The disconnect and each circuit usually need to be clearly marked.

How to avoid a failed inspection

  1. Call the power provider first. Ask what they need to see before they connect.
  2. Ask the inspector what applies at your address. Rules differ by city and county. See our guide to Tennessee electrical permits.
  3. Pull the permit before work starts, not after.
  4. Use the materials they accept. A cheaper part that fails inspection costs more than the right one.
  5. Have the work done by someone who will stand behind it. If it fails, a good electrician fixes it and comes back.

Where mobile homes get tricky in East Tennessee

Lots in the rural parts of Greene, Cocke and Hamblen counties can be far from the road, on a slope or sitting on rock, and that changes how the line is run. A pole that works on a flat lot in town may not work on a ridge. We look at the lot first. Costs come into this too, and our guide on the cost to hook up electric to a mobile home explains what drives them.

A job that shows how it goes

One customer in our area needed a mobile home hookup. We quoted it the same day and finished three days later in a few hours of work. It went smoothly because the lot was ready and the requirements were sorted out before the pole went in. That kind of preparation is what keeps hookups quick.

When to call an electrician

  • Before you buy a pole or meter base, so you buy the right one.
  • Before you trench or set a pole.
  • If a mobile home has power but the setup looks damaged, leaning, rusted or burnt.
  • If an inspector has failed your setup and you are not sure what to fix.

Safety note: The wires at the top of a pole and at the meter are live and carry dangerous voltage. Do not touch them, and stay away from any pole with damaged or hanging lines. If a line is down, keep clear and call your power provider.

Learn how we handle this work on our mobile home electrical hookup page.

Why homeowners call GPM

  • Licensed electrician
  • Family-owned in Greeneville
  • Price before any work begins
  • Permits pulled when required
  • Rated 5.0 on Google

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about pricing and how we work. Don’t see your question? Call Nick.

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Can I set the pole myself?

Some people do the digging and setting, but the electrical work on the pole should be done by a licensed electrician, and the rules on who may do what vary by location. Ask your inspector before you start.

Who owns the pole?

Usually the pole and everything on your side of the meter belong to the homeowner. The power provider owns its lines and meter. Confirm with your provider.

Do I need a permit for a power pole?

In most places, yes. An inspection is often required before the power provider will turn on the meter.

How do I know what my provider requires?

Call them and ask for their requirements for a new residential service. Many have a short checklist or a person who will walk you through it.

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Have a Question About Your Home?

Planning a pole? Call us before you buy anything and we will walk through it with you.

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