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GPDO 2015 England Permitted Development rules · statutory fees effective 1 April 2026

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Energy & EV Schedule 2, Part 14 · Part 14 Class A

Solar Panel Planning Rules: Pitched & Flat Roofs (Part 14 Class A)

Roof-mounted solar PV and solar thermal panels on houses are Permitted Development under GPDO Part 14 Class A. On pitched roofs panels must not project more than 200mm from the roof slope or rise above the highest part of the roof. Flat-roof arrays have their own height and edge limits. Check your installation below.

If PD
£0
Application
£548
Decision
8 wks

Step 1 · Your project

Solar Panels checker

Roof type
140mm

Measured from the roof surface to the top face of the panel. Typical on-roof systems are 100–150mm; in-roof systems are flush.

Will any panel sit above the ridge?
Conservation area/WHS with panels on a wall facing a highway?
Is the house listed?

Rules reflect the GPDO 2015 (England) for houses. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and Article 4 areas have restricted rights. Disclaimer.

Step 2 · Live statutory assessment

Permitted Development – Part 14 Class A

Part 14 Class A

Your Pitched roof solar installation meets the Part 14 Class A limits. No planning application is needed.

  • Projection 140mm is within the 200mm limit.
  • Panels stay below the highest part of the roof.
ROOF SECTION – PANEL PROJECTION CHECK
CHIMNEY HIGHEST PART OF ROOF PROJECTION 140mm · MAX 200mm PITCHED ROOF – SECTION

England fees & timings (from 1 April 2026)

Council application fee

£0

Part 14 Class A right

Lawful Development Certificate

£274

Rarely needed for solar

Decision time

0 weeks

Notify DNO before energising

Applying online via the Planning Portal adds a £91 service charge (inc. VAT).

Builder & neighbour spec sheet

Export these exact limits and your answers to share with your contractor.

At a glance

Solar Panels: the statutory limits in England

  • Pitched roof: panels must not protrude more than 200mm beyond the plane of the roof slope or wall.
  • No part may be higher than the highest part of the roof, excluding the chimney.
  • Flat roof: the highest part must be no more than 0.6m above the roof and at least 1m from the roof edge.
  • In a conservation area or WHS, panels may not be fixed to a wall fronting a highway (roof slopes are allowed).
  • Panels must be sited, so far as practicable, to minimise their visual effect, and removed when no longer needed.
  • No rights within the curtilage of a listed building without consent; ground-mounted arrays fall under Class B (max 9m², 4m high, 5m from boundary).

Statutory reference

Legislation summary & 2026 fee table

England statutory planning fees effective 1 April 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate different regimes.

GPDO legislation and fee summary for Solar Panels
Primary legislation Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (SI 2015/596), as amended
GPDO Schedule / Part Schedule 2, Part 14
Class Class A – installation of solar equipment on domestic premises
Exact reference GPDO 2015 Sch.2 Pt.14 Class A, A.1–A.2 (as amended 2023); Class B (stand-alone)
Standard application fee £548 – Householder planning application
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) £274 – optional proof the works are lawful
Planning Portal service charge £91 (inc. VAT) if submitted online
Council determination period 8 weeks
Key exclusions Rooftop prior approval applies to large non-domestic arrays (Part 14 Class J), not ordinary houses.

Avoid enforcement

The 3 most common homeowner traps

Trap #1

Tilting panels on a shallow pitched roof

To improve output, some installers tilt panels up on a low-pitched roof. The 200mm is measured to the highest part of the panel, so even a modest tilt frame on a 15° roof can project 300–500mm and fall outside Class A.

Trap #2

Panels peeking over the ridge

Rails on the top row can push a panel edge above the ridge line, especially on hipped roofs. The limit is the highest part of the roof excluding the chimney – keep a clear margin below the ridge tiles.

Trap #3

Assuming conservation areas ban solar

Roof-mounted panels are still PD in most conservation areas – the restriction is on walls fronting a highway. The real blockers are listed buildings and Article 4 Directions, so check your council’s Article 4 map.

Separate legal regimes

Building Regulations vs planning permission

Solar panels need no planning permission in most cases, but they are still regulated building and electrical work:

Roof structure (Part A)
Panels add roughly 15–20kg/m² plus wind uplift. Older or altered roofs may need a structural check before installation.
Electrical (Part P) & MCS
PV wiring and inverter connections are notifiable work. Use an MCS-certified installer to qualify for Smart Export Guarantee payments.
DNO notification
Systems up to 3.68kW per phase are notified under G98 after installation; larger systems need G99 approval from the network operator before connection.
Battery storage
Home batteries should be installed to PAS 63100 fire-safety guidance – not in escape routes or sleeping areas.

Panels on your own roof slope do not trigger the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Cutting into a party wall or parapet to fix rails, or any work to a shared roof structure, would need a Section 2 notice with two months’ warning.

FAQs

Solar Panels: frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for solar panels on my house?

Usually not. Roof panels are Permitted Development if they project no more than 200mm from the roof slope, stay below the highest part of the roof and the house is not listed. Otherwise a householder application costs £548 in England from April 2026.

Can I put solar panels on a flat roof without permission?

Yes, under the amended Class A, provided no part is more than 0.6m above the highest part of the flat roof and the array is at least 1m from the roof edge. Prior approval is only relevant to large non-domestic rooftop schemes.

Can I install solar panels in a conservation area?

Generally yes on the roof – the conservation-area restriction applies to panels on walls fronting a highway. Listed buildings and Article 4 Directions can still require consent.

Do ground-mounted solar panels need planning permission?

Stand-alone arrays fall under Part 14 Class B: only one is allowed, no more than 9m² in area and 4m high, and at least 5m from the boundary. Larger arrays need a planning application.

Sources: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and amendments (legislation.gov.uk); MHCLG ‘Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance’; the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications…) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended; Building Regulations 2010 Approved Documents; Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Last reviewed 15 October 2026. See our editorial standards and disclaimer.

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