Solar panels on homes are usually permitted development in England — but there are restrictions on size, position, and location. Here’s everything you need to know.
Solar panels on a dwellinghouse or a building within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse are permitted development under Part 14 of the GPDO 2015 — no planning permission is required in most cases. The key restrictions are: panels must not protrude more than 200mm from the roof or wall surface; panels cannot be on a wall or roof slope that fronts a highway; and in conservation areas, panels cannot be on a wall or roof slope that is visible from a highway. Listed buildings require listed building consent for solar installations (and the LPA must also consent to any planning permission needed). Ground-mounted solar panels have separate permitted development rights with different conditions.
Part 14, Class A of Schedule 2 to the GPDO 2015 permits the installation of solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a dwellinghouse or a building within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse. This covers both roof-mounted panels on the main house and panels on outbuildings in the garden.
The permitted development right covers:
The right applies to dwellinghouses (Class C3). It does not apply to flats or commercial buildings, which have separate considerations under Part 14 Class B (non-domestic) or may require planning permission.
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Projection from surface | Panels must not protrude more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall surface |
| Highway-facing roof/wall | Panels cannot be installed on a wall or roof slope that fronts (faces) a highway |
| Height | Panels on a roof must not be higher than the highest part of the roof (excluding chimney) |
| Listed buildings | Permitted development rights for solar do not apply to listed buildings — listed building consent is required |
| Removal when no longer needed | When the solar equipment is no longer needed it must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable |
| Appearance | Panels must, so far as practicable, be sited to minimise the effect on the amenity of the area |
In conservation areas, the permitted development right for solar panels is more restricted. In a conservation area, solar panels cannot be installed on:
This is the same restriction as the general rule above — but in a conservation area it’s stricter in practice because the council may define “highway” more broadly. In most conservation areas, the front roof slope and any visible side slope will require planning permission for solar panels.
In National Parks and AONBs, the same Part 14 permitted development rights apply — there is no additional restriction in the GPDO for solar on dwellinghouses in National Parks or AONBs (unlike extensions, where PD rights are curtailed). However, individual Article 4 Directions made by National Park Authorities may remove the solar PD right in specific areas — check with your NPA.
Free-standing solar panels in the garden are permitted development under Part 14, Class B of the GPDO, provided:
These are more restrictive conditions than roof-mounted panels. For larger ground-mounted installations (e.g. on agricultural land), separate consents under Part 17 of the GPDO or a full planning application may be needed.
Extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings, solar panels — our complete guide covers everything you can build without planning permission.
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