Building Regulations Consent For Solar Panels

Refer s 43 of the building act 2004.

Building regulations consent for solar panels.

There are some exceptions to this but for the purposes of this practice note the installation of pv panels to generate electricity does not require a building consent. There s a size restriction of 9m2 for any standalone arrays. Building regulations also apply to other aspects of the work such as electrical installation. The new exemptions will save building owners time and money by not having to go to their local council for consent for common building projects.

Stand alone solar equipment panels not on a building but within the grounds of a house or a block of flats. No part of the installation can be above 4 metres if two of your friends are standing on your shoulders and not able to reach the top then it s too high. Building consents are no longer be needed for a number of new or expanded types of low risk building work like sleep outs sheds carports outdoor fireplaces and ground mounted solar panels. Since a change in legislation in april 2008 the installation of solar panels has been deemed permitted development and therefore planning permission is not required unless the building is listed or in a conservation area.

If you wish to install a solar panel on your roof building regulations will normally apply. You will need to check that your roof is capable of supporting the additional weight that comes with the solar panels. The property may be in a special interest or heritage zone. Solar panel installations have to pass standard building regulationsfor the property it s a legal requirement for many home improvements.

To qualify as a standalone solar system the panels have to be at least 5 metres from the property. The key areas are structural safetyof a building part a and electrical safetyof a building part p. Being in a conservation area does not in itself stop you from an installation. You might need a resource consent.

As solar installations aren t considered as building work a building consent is not required but can be applied for voluntarily. Some strengthening work may be needed. If you plan to install photovoltaic panels you need to check if you need a resource consent. Adding the photovoltaic panels on the roof may affect height to boundary restrictions.

Building regulations regardless of whether or not planning permission is required for the installation of your solar panels the installation itself is still subject to standard building regulations.