Building Regulations & Planning Permission For Solar Panels

Below, we’ll be covering: 

• Building regulations to be aware of before installing solar panels
• Planning permission for flats, houses, apartments and commercial buildings
• FAQ

This is a 10-minute read. Feel free to bookmark this page for later, and read our quick summary below…

In Summary: Planning Permission & Building Regulations For Solar Panels

Building regulations and planning permission are not the same thing. 

The building regulations your solar panel installers need to be aware of are Part (A) and Part (P). These relate to the structural integrity of your roof, as well as safety regarding the electrical aspect of the installation. 

Planning permission is generally not required for houses, although it’s always worth checking with your local planning authority. 

Buildings that need planning permission / consent to install solar panels include: 

• Listed buildings
• Properties located in a conservation areas
• Installations that include large ground-mounted systems
• Commercial property installations with an output that’s 1 megawatt or higher

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Our engineers are MCS accredited and ensure both building regulations are adhered to and necessary planning permission is in place, before carrying out your install. 

You can get quotes on your system using our clickable solar panel tool here. That tool spec’s a solar panel system that’s most suited to your property; optimum efficiency and maximum energy bill savings!

If you’re unsure if you need planning permission for your install, speak to our experts here. 

Our Guide To Building Regulations & Planning Permission

Building Regulations For Solar Panels

If you plan to install solar panels on your roof, standard building regulations will apply. Some of the most important things to consider we’ve mentioned below…

The Structural Integrity of Your Roof

Typically, this includes the likes of ensuring your roof has enough structural integrity to take the weight of solar panels. For this, you’ll need an engineer that has experience with Part (A) building regulations in the UK.

A solar panel such as the LONGi Hi-MO 6 will weigh approximately 25kg. Therefore, a 12-panel system including mounting hardware is going to weigh in excess of 300kg. 

If you live in an old property where the roof hasn't been refurbished for decades, it's likely it won't take the weight of a solar panel system. 

Unsure if your roof can take the weight of solar panels? Contact our experts here. 

Electrical Connections

Once your solar panel system has been fitted, it will need to be connected to your controller, battery and the grid. For this, you'll want to use a qualified electrical engineer who has experience with Part (P) building regulations in the UK. 

A qualified electrical engineer would hold one or more of the following qualifications: 

• Level 3 NVQ in electrical engineering
• City & Guilds level 3 in electrical installations
• Competent Person Scheme membership

MCS Accreditation

To ensure both Part (A) and Part (P) of building regulations are adhered to during your installation, you'll want to use a company that has MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited engineers on their books. 

The MCS is a UK governing body that is designed to ensure the safety and quality of UK green energy installations including: biomass boilers, wind turbines, air source heat pumps and solar panels. 

MCS accredited engineers also have the experience and knowledge to ensure that your system is designed to be as efficient as possible. 

That's not to mention the fact that if you don't use a MCS registered solar panel installer, you won't be eligible for things such as: 

• 0% VAT: A scheme setup by the UK government that saves consumers £1,000+ on their solar panel installation
• Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): A scheme whereby solar panel system owners can sell any excess energy produced, back to the grid and earn an income in the process!

The end result is a quality solar panel installation that saves you as much money as possible on your energy bills. 

Solar Panel Building Regulations in Summary

Use an MCS engineer for your solar panel installation. They’ll work to both structural and electrical building regulations. 

All of our engineers are MCS accredited. And you can get prices on a solar panel system installed by a qualified engineer by using our clickable solar panel tool here. 

For more information related to building regulations for solar panels, read this page over at the Planning Portal. 

Planning Permission For Solar Panels

As a rule of thumb, small residential installations will not require planning permission; they’ll be covered by Permitted Development Rights.

However, there are various rules related to leasehold and commercial properties, listed buildings, and buildings situated in conservation areas, which we’ll explain below…

Solar Panels on Houses

For a typical residential solar panel installation on a house, planning permission isn't required.

However, it's always best to consult with your solar panel installer to minimise visual impact as much as possible. 

As an example, there are plenty of solar panels that only protrude a roof’s structure by 200mm, reducing the visual impact of solar panels from roads or pathways. 

Properties that usually require planning permission for solar panels include leasehold premises (flats, apartments, commercial units etc), listed buildings and those located in conservation areas. 

Use our solar panel installation tool here to get prices on your system. 

Still unsure whether or not you need planning permission? Speak to our installation experts here. 

Ground Mounted Solar Panels

Ground mounted solar panels won't need planning permission (they'll be covered under Permitted Development Rights) as long the installation adheres to the following:

• You don't already have a ground mounted installation in place (only the first installation is covered by Permitted Development Rights)
• The property isn't a listed building or in a conservation area
• Panels and any components of your system are 5 metres plus away from your property's boundary
• The area covered by the installation isn't above 9 sqm

If your installation isn't going to abide by the above rules, then you'll need to apply for planning permission.

Leasehold Properties

Whilst you may not need planning permission from your local planning authority for installations on a flat, apartment or even a small commercial premises, you may need the freeholders consent. 

If you want solar panels installed on a leasehold premises, contact the freeholder (the person or entity you pay your ground rent and service charge to). They may deny your application due to concerns over the roof's structural integrity. 

Commercial Properties

Small commercial premises will not require planning permission for solar panel installation. However, if you plan to install a system that has an output of 1 megawatt or higher, you will need planning permission. 

It's worth noting whilst this rule is in place, the UK government plans to remove (or at least, increase) the 1 megawatt threshold. This ensures that small-medium sized commercial properties are able to bypass the long and costly process of obtaining planning permission. 

Listed Buildings

Any change or development of listed buildings usually requires planning permission, and that’s the case with solar panels. 

To obtain planning permission for residential or commercial solar panels for listed buildings (or those in a conservation area), you’ll need to speak to your local planning authority. 

To find out the details from your local planning authority (LPA), click here. 

More information regarding planning permission for solar panels can be found on the government’s Planning Portal website here. 

Building Regulations & Planning Permission FAQ

Still got questions? We’ve created an FAQ covering both planning permission and building regulations below. 

You can use our solar panel tool here to get prices, or, speak to an expert to determine if you need planning permission here. 

Is planning permission for solar panels the same thing as adhering to building regulations?

Planning permission and building regulations are not the same thing. 

Building regulations mainly relate to safety aspects of an installation such as checking the structural integrity of your roof, and using a qualified electrician. 

Planning permission on the other hand is permission needed by a local planning authority when a solar panel installation doesn’t fall within Permitted Development Rights. 

What size commercial solar panel system needs planning permission?

Any commercial solar panel system over 1 megawatt will need planning permission. 

However, it’s likely the government will increase or scrap this threshold in the near future. 

If I own my house do I need planning permission for solar panels?

It’s unlikely you’ll need planning permission or consent for solar panel installation if you own your house, and it’s not a leasehold (i.e. somebody else owns the freehold).

Do leasehold properties need planning permission for solar panels?

Whilst you might not need planning permission for a leasehold property, you may need consent from the freeholder. 

The freeholder would be the person or entity you pay your ground rent and / or service charge too. 

Check if you need planning permission by speaking to our solar panel experts here. 

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