Do you need planning permission for solar panels in the UK?

Short answer: almost certainly not. Here's exactly what the current rules allow, and the situations where you would still need to apply.

What the current rules actually allow

Solar installations on houses are covered under permitted development rights, set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. Following the update that came into force in August 2026, the rules for houses are now clearer and more generous than they used to be:

• Roof-mounted panels can now cover up to 70% of the roof area without needing an application
• Panels can protrude up to 300mm from the roof surface — a standard installation typically sits well within this anyway
• Ground-mounted arrays are permitted up to 3m in height and 15m² in area
• Small "plug-in" solar kits (up to 800W, connecting via a standard socket) are now permitted development too, though not on wooden structures or cladding

If a solar project was already compliant under the older, tighter rules before the August 2026 change, there's a one-year transitional window (until 26 August 2027) to complete it under those original terms if that's more favourable for your specific project.

When you'd still need to apply

Permitted development rights don't apply everywhere. You'll likely need a formal planning or listed building application if:

• Your home is a listed building (Grade I, II* or II) — this applies even to roof-mounted panels not visible from the street
• You're in a conservation area, and the installation would be visible from a road or public space
• Your property is a scheduled monument
• You live in a flat or maisonette — blocks of flats are covered by a separate, generally stricter set of rules than houses

If any of these apply to you, it's not a dealbreaker — it just means an extra step before installation. Worth mentioning when you get your quote, so we can factor it into the timeline.