The rules changed in 2021 and most homeowners no longer need permission. Here are the exceptions that still catch people out.
For the great majority of Irish homes, no. Planning exemptions for rooftop solar were widened in October 2021, removing the previous caps on roof area.
The exceptions
- Protected structures. If your home is on the local authority's Record of Protected Structures, the exemption does not apply and you will need permission.
- Architectural Conservation Areas. Worth confirming with the local authority before committing.
- Certain zones near airports and aerodromes, where glint and glare are assessed.
- Ground-mounted arrays, which are treated differently to rooftop and have their own limits.
How to check
Your local authority holds the Record of Protected Structures and the maps of Architectural Conservation Areas, and both are usually searchable online. If you are unsure, ask before you order equipment rather than after.
We confirm this at survey stage as a matter of course. If your property falls into one of the exceptions, you should know before anything is ordered.
What the exemption does not remove
Being exempt from planning permission does not remove the electrical requirements. The installation still has to be certified, and the grid connection still has to be notified to ESB Networks. That is part of the job, not something you are left to handle.