The Good News: Most Homes Don't Need Permission
In England (and under similar rules in Scotland and Wales), solar panels on a domestic dwelling are classed as permitted development under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order. This means no planning application, no fee, and no waiting for approval — provided your installation meets the specified conditions.
In practice, over 90% of residential solar installations in the UK proceed without any planning contact.
Permitted Development Conditions for England (2026)
To qualify as permitted development, your solar installation must meet all of the following:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Property type | House or flat (with own roof access) |
| Panel protrusion | No more than 200mm above the roof plane |
| Roof height | Panels must not be installed above the highest point of the roof |
| Wall mounting | Not on a wall facing a highway if the wall faces a highway and the highway is in front of the principal elevation |
| Listed buildings | Full planning consent required — permitted development does not apply |
| Conservation areas | Wall-mounted panels facing a highway require consent |
| National parks / AONBs | Additional restrictions may apply |
When You Do Need Planning Permission
Listed buildings
If your home is Grade I, Grade II*, or Grade II listed, you need both listed building consent and planning permission before installing solar panels. Work with a specialist heritage architect and your local planning authority. Installations do happen — but they require careful design, typically using in-roof or slate-integrated systems that minimise visual impact.
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Conservation areas
If you live in a designated conservation area, permitted development still applies for roof-mounted solar — with one key exception: panels on a wall that faces a highway require a formal application. Rear-roof installations are typically fine without permission.
Flat-roof properties
Flat-roof solar installations on houses are permitted development if panels do not protrude more than 1 metre above the flat roof and are not installed closer to the boundary than 1 metre. For flats, the rules depend on whether you have access to the roof and whether the installation affects communal parts of the building.
New-build homes (post-2022)
New developments approved since June 2022 in England are subject to Building Regulations Part L, which effectively requires solar panels or equivalent renewable energy. Developers typically handle this as part of the build, but check with your developer if buying off-plan.
Scotland and Wales: Key Differences
Scotland: Permitted development rights for solar are broadly similar to England. However, the Scottish Government has been progressively extending permitted development rights to support renewable energy, so check the most recent Scottish Planning Policy if your property is in a rural area.
Wales: Future Wales Policy 17 and Technical Advice Note 8 set a supportive framework. Permitted development for domestic solar is comparable to England, with similar exceptions for listed buildings and conservation areas.
Practical Steps Before Installation
- Check if your property is listed: Use Historic England's National Heritage List at historicengland.org.uk.
- Check your conservation area status: Your local council's planning portal or a quick Google of "[your postcode] conservation area" will confirm this.
- Review your lease or freehold: Leasehold properties may have covenants restricting alterations. Check with your solicitor or management company.
- Contact your local planning authority if uncertain: A pre-application enquiry (often free or low cost) gives written confirmation of your status.
What If You've Already Installed Without Checking?
If your installation meets the permitted development conditions, no action is needed — you were lawfully compliant without an application. If it turns out your installation did not comply (for example, panels on a listed building), you should seek retrospective consent as soon as possible. Enforcement is rare for domestic solar but the risk is real, particularly if you are selling the property.
Ground-Mounted Solar
Ground-mounted panels have different rules. Permitted development allows a ground-mounted system on domestic land if:
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- Total capacity is 9kWp or under
- No single panel exceeds 4m² and no more than 50% of the garden is covered
- The installation is not within the curtilage of a listed building
- Not forward of the principal elevation
