Guest post by Alex Chapman

Installing solar panels on your roof can reduce your energy costs and carbon emissions. The solar energy that is produced by photovoltaic panels, the most popular form of solar delivery in use today (also known as solar PV), generated approximately 10 per cent of Australia's electricity in 2020-21, briefly surpassing coal for the first time. Although Australis still has a long way to go before reaching the peak of its capability to generate renewal energy, solar is currently the fastest growing type of renewable energy in the country, with over 30 per cent of households using rooftop solar PV.

Many homes in Sydney have the perfect roof for solar panels, but it’s important to check whether you need council approval before installing them. Aside from inquiring with your local council, you can ask solar installers in your area. They should know whether you will need a permit to install solar panels on your roof; if they don’t know, this may be a sign that you shouldn’t use their services.

You may require approval if your property is heritage listed or if it’s an apartment block with a separately managed common area. In general, you will not need council approval to install solar panels on your property if it’s a single house or grouped dwelling. Also, if your home has a Strata Plan (i.e., a subdivision of a parcel of Real Property land into common areas and separate lots), you will need permission to install a solar power system on any roof section.

However, there are some circumstances where getting approval from your strata manager or council is recommended; this will depend on where you live and the council in your area. These circumstances include the following:

Your Property Is Heritage Listed

If your property was listed on the State Heritage Register before 1 July 2010, you will almost definitely need council approval to install solar panels, even if they’re on your roof.

Heritage Council regulations require you to get approval before adding anything to your roof that is not an existing part of the roof structure. This includes solar panels, air conditioners, and wind turbines. You may be able to get approval if your property was listed on the State Heritage Register after 1 July 2010.

The Heritage Council’s guidelines say if it’s in reasonable condition, any additions to the roof will have to be ‘discreet and unobtrusive.’ If you’re not sure whether your property is heritage listed, you can find out by visiting the State Heritage Register website.

Your Roof Is Protected Under the National Heritage Trust

If your roof was given National Heritage Trust protection after July 2010, you will need the approval to install solar panels. The Heritage Trust protects ‘special places’ in NSW by giving them heritage status. Roofs on certain types of buildings automatically become heritage listed.

You can check if your roof is protected by viewing the National Heritage Trust list online. If you see that your roof is protected, you’ll need the approval to install solar panels. You may be able to get approval if your property was given to the trust before July 2010.

You Live in an Apartment Block with a Separately Managed Common Area

If the roof of your apartment block is the only part of your property that’s separately managed, you’ll need the approval to install solar panels. In these cases, the strata manager decides what can be done to the roof.

You’ll need approval from your strata manager before installing solar panels. You may be able to get approval if your property has a separately managed common area other than the roof. In this case, the council will decide what can be done in the common area.

If your council has a ‘solar on common areas’ policy, you may be able to get approval for solar panels. You can find out if your council has a policy by searching online. If your council doesn’t have a policy, you’ll need to get approval to install solar panels.

For Installing Other Energy Efficiency Measures

If you want to install energy efficiency measures on your roofs such as solar shingles or solar tiles, you will probably need approval. These types of lightweight, versatile panels are a roof cladding material that look like slim tiles or shingles and are usually installed on top of or in place of an existing roof covering.

You will probably need to get approval from your council. You may be able to get approval for in-styles solar Sydney panels that are designed to blend into the roof without needing to remove the existing roof covering. You can find out if a solar panel is approved for your roof by searching the Sustainability Council’s Solar Guide.

If you want to install solar panels on your walls, you may need approval. If you want to install solar panels in a common area of your apartment block, you will definitely need approval.

Conclusion

Installing solar panels on your roof is a great way to reduce your carbon emissions and energy costs. The Australian government is continuing to encourage homeowners to switch to solar energy, and these days with the cost of installing solar energy systems continuing to decrease, using PV power to meet at least some of your home’s energy needs is becoming within the reach of a growing number of people in Australia. However, even if you are ready to make the leap to solar panels on your roof, you need to make sure you get council approval before installing them.

This is especially important if your property is heritage listed or has a roof that is protected under the National Heritage Trust. If you want to install solar panels on your walls or in a common area of your apartment block, you also need to get council approval.

Within the past few years, the New South Wales government has amended legislation in order to facilitate the installation of larger-scale solar systems on homes and commercial buildings without council approval. However, whether you can install one of these systems on your own home or building without council approval varies, so it is important to do your homework first and find out what, if any, restrictions are in place to avoid making a costly mistake.

Alex Chapman is a passionate thought leader. His passion and knowledge in Business and Finance made him a highly regarded contributor providing valuable insights to his readers. He is a bookworm, and you will see him discussing current events in his spare time.

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