Do I need planning permission for solar panels on my house?

Start here: the 60-second answer (England)

For houses and flats in England, most roof-mounted solar is permitted development (PD) if you meet key limits: keep panels below the roof’s highest part (chimneys ignored) and no more than 200 mm off the wall/roof plane; avoid mounting on a street-facing wall in a conservation area; remove equipment when no longer needed; and site to minimise visual impact. For flat roofs, the highest point of the equipment must be ≤ 600 mm above the roof; on Article 2(3) designated land (e.g. conservation areas, AONBs) a prior approval step is required for flat-roof installs. planningportal.co.uk

TL;DR

• Most rooftop solar is PD if you meet the 200 mm (pitched) and ≤ 600 mm (flat) limits and other conditions. planningportal.co.uk

• No wall-mounts on a principal elevation facing a highway in a conservation area (England/Wales). planningportal.co.ukGOV.WALES

• Listed buildings / scheduled monuments: PD generally doesn’t apply; consent is needed. planningportal.co.uk

• Consider a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) for proof it’s PD. gov.uk

England—what’s allowed (and the gotchas)

• Pitched roofs: keep panels below the ridge line and projecting ≤ 200 mm from the roof/wall. Blocks of flats are also covered by PD for solar. planningportal.co.uk

• Flat roofs: the array must be ≤ 600 mm above the roof’s highest part; on Article 2(3) land (National Parks, AONB, the Broads, conservation areas, World Heritage Sites) you must seek prior approval for flat-roof installs. planningportal.co.uk

• Conservation areas: don’t mount on a wall fronting a highway. Roof-slope installs typically fine if other PD limits are met. planningportal.co.uk

• Standalone (ground) arrays in your garden: PD for the first installation only, with limits incl. ≤ 4 m height, ≥ 5 m to boundaries, ≤ 9 m² array size, extra height limits in conservation areas, and not within the curtilage of a listed building. planningportal.co.uk

• Article 4: a council can locally remove PD rights—check before ordering. planningportal.co.ukplanning.data.gov.uk

Wales—similar core rules, different flat-roof cap

Wales broadly mirrors England on 200 mm projection, ridge height, and no wall-mounts on principal/side elevations visible from the highway in conservation areas. For flat roofs, panels must be ≥ 1 m from the edge and ≤ 1 m above the roof plane (note the taller allowance than England). One standalone array is PD with size/height and siting limits. GOV.WALES

Scotland—major relaxations from May 2024

Scotland removed most planning barriers for rooftop solar on homes in 2024. New classes allow solar on houses, flats and many outbuildings, generally PD if the equipment doesn’t protrude more than 500 mm and isn’t on principal or road-facing side elevations in conservation areas; PD doesn’t apply to listed buildings or World Heritage Sites. gov.scot+1legislation.gov.uk

Northern Ireland—PD exists, but check the local detail

NI’s GPDO provides PD for installation of solar PV/thermal on domestic premises under Part 2 – Installation of domestic microgeneration equipment (Classes include solar). Limits and conditions apply (and 2023 amendments expanded microgeneration provisions). Always check local guidance for conservation areas/listed buildings. legislation.gov.ukCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Councilnidirect

Smart ways to de-risk your install

• Measure before you buy: confirm the 200 mm (England/Wales pitched) or ≤ 600 mm (England flat) / ≤ 1 m (Wales flat) / ≤ 500 mm (Scotland) limits with your installer’s mounting details. planningportal.co.ukGOV.WALESgov.scot

• Conservation areas: choose a rear roof-slope, an outbuilding (where permitted) or a compliant ground array; avoid principal elevation wall-mounts. planningportal.co.uk+1

• Article 2(3) land (England) with flat roofs: factor in prior approval time. planningportal.co.uk

• Listed? Expect listed building consent (even where PD might otherwise apply). planningportal.co.uk

• Get proof: apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to reassure buyers/lenders and lock in PD compliance. gov.uk

• Building Regulations still apply (structural loading, electrics; use a Competent Person Scheme installer). planningportal.co.uk

Handy table—headline differences

Sources: England/standalone/flat-roof & terms (Planning Portal); Wales (GOV.WALES); Scotland (Circular 1/2024 & SSI 2024/102); NI (GPDO 2015 Part 2 & DfI 2023 amendment). planningportal.co.uk+1GOV.WALESgov.scotlegislation.gov.uk+1Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

What if my council says “you still need permission”?

Ask them to cite the specific PD limit you fail or whether an Article 4 Direction applies. If you still disagree, an LDC application can settle it. planningportal.co.ukgov.uk

(Jurisdictions covered: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland as at 31 August 2025.)