For most houses, yes, without planning permission. The exceptions catch more British housing than people expect, so it is worth checking properly before you get attached to the idea.
Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026. Rules differ across the UK and change. Confirm with your local planning authority.
The normal case
Roof-mounted solar panels on a house are normally permitted development, which means no planning application, subject to conditions on how far the panels project from the roof plane and where they sit.
Your installer should know the current limits. If they are vague about it, that is worth noting.
The exceptions
Listed buildings You need listed building consent, and it is a separate process from planning permission. Consent is not automatic and placement usually matters a great deal. Start early.
Conservation areas Permitted development is restricted, typically where panels would be on a wall or a roof slope fronting a highway. Panels on a rear roof slope are often acceptable where front-facing ones are not.
Article 4 Directions A local authority can remove permitted development rights in a specific area. If one applies to you, you need permission for work that would otherwise be automatic. Your council will tell you whether one applies.
Scheduled monuments Effectively out.
Flats and maisonettes Permitted development for solar generally applies to houses. For a flat you will normally need the freeholder’s consent, and the roof may not be yours to use at all. Check the lease.
World Heritage Sites and National Parks carry their own restrictions.
Ground-mounted systems
Different rules again, with limits on size, height and how many you can have, and restrictions in conservation areas and similar. If you have land and are considering a ground mount, check with the council rather than assuming.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Planning is devolved. The rules above describe England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own permitted development regimes, broadly similar in intent but different in detail.
If you are outside England, check with your own planning authority rather than relying on general UK guidance, including ours.
Heat pumps
Different limits again. In England the outdoor unit must not exceed 1.5 cubic metres on a house, or 0.6 cubic metres for a block of flats. On a detached house the first 2 units are permitted development; elsewhere the first
- From 28 May 2026, MCS 020a, under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, is the only permitted certification scheme for air source heat pumps.
See heat pumps.
Plug-in solar
Plug-in solar units have been legal in Great Britain since 27 Aug 2026. They still need permission from a landlord, freeholder or building owner where relevant, and planning permission or listed building consent can apply, particularly if visible from the street.
See plug-in solar.
Other permissions worth thinking about
Your buildings insurer Tell them. Usually straightforward, occasionally they ask about battery siting. See battery safety and siting.
Your freeholder, if leasehold.
Building regulations Separate from planning. Your installer handles the electrical and structural side, and this is part of what MCS certification covers.
If you are in a conservation area or the building is listed
It is not hopeless. Options that often work:
- Panels on a rear roof slope not visible from the street
- Panels on an outbuilding or garage
- In-roof mounting, which sits flush rather than proud, and is sometimes acceptable where standard mounting is not
- All-black panels with black frames, which some authorities prefer
- Plug-in solar or a battery on its own, neither of which alters the building
Talk to the conservation officer at your council before applying. They will usually tell you what would be acceptable, which is much cheaper than a refused application.