CONSTRUCTION SAANENLAND
Facade-mounted solar systems are now possible without planning permission

As of 1 January 2026, solar installations on building façades can be realised without a formal planning permit, provided certain conditions are met. This change follows the revised federal spatial planning legislation and was confirmed in a recent communication by the Wirtschafts-, Energie- und Umweltdirektion (WEU).

Instead of undergoing a full building permit process, property owners are now required to submit a notification via the eBau platform, which significantly simplifies the administrative process for eligible projects.

To support implementation, the canton has published a new guideline entitled “Facade-mounted solar installations exempt from planning permission under the notification procedure”. The document defines the criteria under which such installations may be carried out without a permit and aims to ensure consistent application across municipalities.

However, stricter rules continue to apply to listed buildings and protected heritage properties (so-called K-objects). In these cases, enhanced design requirements remain in force, meaning that a formal planning application is still mandatory.

The new guideline complements existing cantonal regulations on permit-free renewable energy installations and was developed jointly by the responsible authorities. Its purpose is to provide clarity and legal certainty for property owners, planners and local authorities, while supporting the broader rollout of renewable energy solutions.

Based on AvS