Will I need planning permission for wind turbine or solar panels?

Solar panels

You won’t need to apply for planning permission for solar panels if:

• They don’t protrude any more than 20cm from the wall or roof
• They aren’t being installed on or within the grounds of a listed building
• Your house is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site and they aren’t installed on a wall that looks out onto a highway

N.B. You’ll need to make sure that the panels minimise the effect on the appearance of your building and the amenity (character) of your local area. And if they’re no longer needed, you’ll need to remove them as soon as possible.

You may be able to install standalone solar panels without planning permission but you should check with your local council’s Planning department to check.

Wind turbines

Some domestic wind turbines (either standalone or installed on a building) fall under the Government’s Permitted Development rules but there are a number of conditions they have to adhere to.

Speak to the planning department in your local council for further details.

Further information

Will I need building regulations approval for my wind turbine or solar panels?