Record roof details and photos for an initial review.
Do solar panels need planning permission in Scotland?
Some domestic solar installations can use permitted development rights, but the building, position and restrictions matter. Check the Scottish rules for your proposal before committing to installation.
The Scottish Government’s Class 6HA guidance covers solar on dwellings. It limits projection to one metre and excludes listed buildings, their curtilage and World Heritage Sites. In conservation areas, principal elevations and road-facing side elevations are restricted. Outbuildings have a different class and limits. These are starting checks, not confirmation that your design qualifies.
Send the address, property type, roof photos and proposed panel layout. Ask which permissions or other approvals need checking. Planning permission, roof condition and the electrical design are separate questions.
In Renfrewshire, the council offers a free initial check of whether planning permission is needed. Its guidance asks you to contact the planning team early, before starting work.
Use the checklist below to note roof direction, shade, condition and property permission. Unknown answers are useful questions for the installer.
In the calculator, compare roof-direction and shading settings while keeping the system size and tariffs the same. The difference is an illustrative scenario, not a roof survey.
Ask each installer for the proposed layout, annual generation, shading assumptions, access/scaffolding costs, roof repairs and responsibility for permissions in writing.
Official planning sources checked 6 October 2026. Follow the linked guidance and confirm your own proposal with the relevant authority. This page does not grant planning permission or confirm structural suitability.
An initial checklist based on your answers. It is not a structural survey, roof design or approval to install. Add photos taken safely from the ground after saving.
Add your details
Use the form to view a result. Details stay in this open page and are not saved or sent to SunBru. For a quote, use the enquiry form.
