Do I need planning permission to install solar panels?

The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be 'permitted development' with no need to apply to the local authority for planning permission. There are, however, important limits and conditions, detailed on the following pages, which must be met to benefit from these permitted development rights.

Are there building regulations for solar panels?

There are building regulations for solar panels, as there are for most home improvements. These government regulations are frequently updated to ensure that any alterations made to properties don’t threaten the safety or health of people who live or work in them.

Do rooftop solar installations need planning permission?

Rooftop solar installations always need building regulations approval, but rarely require planning permission. This is because they generally fall under permitted development rights, which allow homeowners to make reasonably sized changes without getting permission.

When did solar panels become a building regulation?

In 2005, household electrical work was absorbed into the UK government’s official Building Regulations. A year later, the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 brought microgeneration systems like solar panels under the umbrella of the Building Regulations. Should you receive a building regulations certificate for your solar panels?

Do I need a building regulations certificate for my solar panel system?

You should receive a building regulations certificate, known as a completion certificate, for your solar panel system. This certificate will assure you and any future owners that the work met all building regulations, which will make it much easier to sell your property at any point.

Can solar panels be built without permission?

This is because they generally fall under permitted development rights, which allow homeowners to make reasonably sized changes without getting permission. The exceptions to this rule are typically flats, listed buildings, homes in conservation areas, and ground-mounted installations. What are the building regulations for solar panels?