Do I need planning permission for solar panels in London?
Usually not. Roof panels are permitted development if they stand no more than 200mm proud of the roof slope. A stand-alone array in the garden is permitted up to 9m² and 4m high. Listed buildings and some conservation area homes have extra restrictions.
Prefer to talk it through?
Panels on the roof
Under Part 14, Class A of the General Permitted Development Order, solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a pitched roof must not protrude more than 200mm beyond the plane of the roof slope (GPDO 2015, Schedule 2, Part 14). Check the mounting system you are quoted for against that figure.
Part 14 adds further conditions, so read the full class before you order.
A ground-mounted array
Class B covers stand-alone solar in the garden. The surface area of the array must not exceed 9m² for a dwellinghouse, and the general height limit is 4m. Closer to a boundary the permitted height drops.
Anything larger, such as a long row of panels along the back lawn, needs a householder application.
If you also want an electric vehicle charger, Part 2, Class D permits a charging outlet whose casing does not exceed 0.2 cubic metres, subject to its other conditions.
Check designations before you book an installer
Part 14 restricts solar in some protected places. Listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 directions can each change the answer, so check them first. Our glossary explains conservation areas and Article 4 directions.
Our glossary entry on permitted development puts these rights in context.
Charging points can go in at the same time
If you also want an electric vehicle charger, Part 2, Class D permits a charging outlet whose casing does not exceed 0.2 cubic metres, subject to its other conditions. A new vehicle crossover is a different matter. See the guide on driveway permission.
Where drawings help
If your panels need permission or a certificate of lawful development, we draw the roof plan and elevations showing the array. Start with our lawful development certificate drawings page.
Sources
Every figure on this page, where it comes from and a link to the original.
| Figure | Source | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 200mm | GPDO 2015 Sch 2 Pt 14 Class A.1(2)(c)(i): solar equipment on pitched roof must not protrude more than 0.2 metres beyond roof slope (source wording: 0.2 metres) | www.legislation.gov.uk |
| 9m² | GPDO 2015 Sch2 Pt14 Class B: stand-alone solar surface area limit, dwellinghouse (source wording: 9 square metres) | www.legislation.gov.uk |
| 4m | GPDO 2015 Sch2 Pt14 Class B: stand-alone solar max height 4 metres in the general case (source wording: 4 metres) | www.legislation.gov.uk |
| 0.2 | GPDO 2015 Sch 2 Pt 2 Class D.1(a): EV charging outlet and casing must not exceed 0.2 cubic metres (source wording: 0.2 cubic metres) | www.legislation.gov.uk |
| ≤4m | GPDO 2015 Sch 2 Pt 14 Class B.1(2)(a): stand-alone solar max height 4 metres in the general case (1m or 2m within 5m of boundary) (source wording: 4 metres) | www.legislation.gov.uk |