Do You Need Planning Permissions for Solar Panels?

If you’re considering a solar PV system to supplement your electricity supply and reduce your power costs, you may need to get proper planning permissions before starting the installation. According to the government’s planning portal, fixing solar panels to your roof is likely to be considered “permitted development” under planning law, and you won’t need any special permits. There are, however, some important exceptions and rules that you may have to observe. A company that installs solar panels will know which planning permissions are necessary for your specific case, but an understanding of the basics can help you make your decision.

Obviously, if you don’t own the property on which you want to install solar panels, you will probably need to get permission from your landlord, management company or freeholder.

As much as possible, solar panels should be sited to minimise their effect on the building’s appearance. They should also be sited, as far as is practical, to minimise the effect on the amenity of the area. If you stop using the solar panels for generating electricity, they should be removed as soon as possible.

Solar Panels Mounted on Walls and Roofs

Solar panels should be installed below the ridgeline and should not project more than 200mm from the surface of the wall or roof.

If your property is a listed building, you will probably need to apply for listed building consent before installing solar panels even if you don’t need planning permission. In addition, if your property is in a World Heritage site or in a conservation area, you’ll need planning permission if you’ll be fitting the solar panels on the principal or side elevation walls if they are visible from the highway. If you’ll be installing solar panels in your garden or on the grounds, they shouldn’t be visible from the highway.

Standalone Solar Panels

In some cases, you may decide that a standalone solar PV system is a better choice for your property. If so, your solar PV installation will have to abide by certain limits, many of which are similar to those for roof or wall-mounted solar panels.

Standalone solar PV installations should be no higher the 4 metres and be located at least 5m from any boundaries. The solar panels array should be no larger than 9 sq m (3m wide by 3m deep). If your land is within a World Heritage Site or a conservation area, the solar installation should not be visible from the highway, and no standalone solar PV installation should be within the boundary of a listed building. You can only have one standalone solar installation on your property.

As noted, an experienced local installation company will be able to tell you which permitting regulations will apply if you choose to install solar panels on your property and arrange for any inspections and permits that must be obtained to register your solar PV system.