Do I need permission for solar panels?

Planning in England

Domestic solar panels are normally permitted development, so no planning application is needed if the conditions are met. The rules were updated on 27 August 2026 to cover plug-in solar, with a transition until the end of 26 August 2027 during which you can follow either the old or the new rules.

• Houses: on a pitched roof, not above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney) and projecting no more than 200 mm; on a flat roof, no more than 600 mm above the highest part; on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure, projecting no more than 0.4 m, or 0.2 m where it is next to a highway.
• Blocks of flats: no more than 200 mm from the wall or roof, with the same roof and listed-building limits.
• Plug-in solar: never on a wooden wall, fence, gate, balcony or other enclosure, or a timber-clad exterior.
• Gardens: stand-alone panels can be permitted development if the array is no more than 9 square metres and within height limits. See garden solar.
• Everywhere: panels should be sited to minimise their effect on the look of the building and the area, and removed when no longer needed.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

Permitted development doesn’t cover a building within the grounds of a listed building, and listed building consent will almost always be needed for panels on a listed building. Doing unauthorised work to a listed building can be a criminal offence. In a conservation area or World Heritage Site, panels must not go on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure that fronts a highway, flat-roof installations on protected land need the council’s prior approval, and an Article 4 direction can remove permitted development rights altogether. Speak to the council’s conservation team before you buy anything.

Planning in Wales

Wales has its own rules. GOV.WALES says solar panels on the roof of a single house are likely to be permitted development if they are not above the ridgeline and project no more than 200 mm, with extra conditions for flat roofs and conservation areas. Those rights apply to houses, so people in flats should contact their local planning authority. The Welsh guidance does not mention plug-in solar, so check with your council before fixing a kit.

Planning in Scotland

Scotland has its own planning system, and England’s plug-in solar rule does not apply there. The Energy Saving Trust tells Scottish households to check the requirements in their area before installing plug-in solar. Check through ePlanning Scotland or your local planning authority, and note that a building warrant or listed building consent may be needed separately.

Planning in Northern Ireland

Planning is handled by Northern Ireland’s councils. Ask yours whether your installation needs permission. Plug-in solar is not yet permitted for use in Northern Ireland. See Solar in Northern Ireland.

Building regulations

The Energy Saving Trust says fixings should be non-permanent and must not damage the building, affect fire safety or harm weatherproofing. If they do, the work may count as building work. Wiring a system in is electrical work that must meet the building regulations: in England and Wales a new circuit is notifiable, and a registered electrician can self-certify it. Rules vary across the nations, so check with local building control.

Your network operator

For rooftop and wired-in systems, the installer notifies the network operator under G98, or applies first under G99 for larger systems. For a plug-in kit, you register it before use on the UK Plug-In Solar Registration website. See G98 and G99 explained.

Landlords, freeholders, lenders and insurers

Tenants and leaseholders need permission from the landlord, freeholder or managing agent, and that is separate from planning: planning permission doesn’t give you the landlord’s consent, or the other way round. Homeowners should check their mortgage terms and tell their insurer. See Renting, leasehold and flats.

If you go ahead without permission

The Energy Saving Trust warns that if you install plug-in solar without the right permission you may have to remove it and pay for any damage, as with satellite dishes or electric car chargers. Get permissions in writing before you buy.