Guides · 4 min
Solar panels
Roof panels are often allowed. The limits are about projection, and about listed buildings.
On a normal roof
On a house, solar panels are often permitted development if they do not stick out more than a small amount, often described as 0.2 metres, beyond the roof slope, and are not higher than the highest part of the roof. There are extra rules in conservation areas and on listed buildings.
Listed building consent is the usual blocker, not the panel itself. A conservation area roof that faces the street is watched more carefully.
Free-standing panels
Panels on a frame in the garden have their own limits on height, size and how close they are to the boundary. They should not be in front of the main wall that faces the road.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.
Questions
Do solar panels need planning permission?
On many houses, no, if they meet the limits. On a listed building, assume you need consent.
Will they affect an extension?
Leave room on the roof. A new dormer and a set of panels can fight for the same slope.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.