Green light to rooftop solar and sustainable buildings

A new building consent exemption will streamline the process for building owners to install rooftop solar panels on their homes and commercial buildings.

Earlier this year, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced changes to the Building Act to clarify that a building consent would not be needed to install rooftop solar panels on existing residential buildings. The exemption has now been extended to apply to all buildings.

For rooftop installations over 40 square metres in total area or in high wind speed areas (classified as 44 metres per second or more – or over 158 Km/H), a chartered professional engineer must either provide or review the installation design for the building owner to be eligible for the exemption. As most residential rooftop solar arrays are generally between 25 to 30 square metres in size, the majority of households will be able to install solar panels without involving an engineer or getting a building consent.

The Government has also announced further changes to the Building Act that will define a ‘sustainable building’ and enable a 10 day fast-track process for building consent applications for residential buildings that meet that definition.

Sustainable buildings will be defined as a building with one or more of the following attributes: energy efficiency, low-embodied carbon, climate resilience, or water efficiency. Sustainable buildings can help reduce power bills and improve health outcomes for New Zealanders. Legislative changes are expected to be introduced in early 2026.

However, the Government will roll out the previously announced fast-track building consent process for buildings with rooftop solar panels first, to monitor uptake and impacts on the consenting system, prior to implementing the sustainable buildings fast-track process.

Read the Minister of Building and Construction’s press release 

Charging ahead with solar and sustainable buildings(external link) — beehive.govt.nz

Learn more about the new building consent exemption

Solar panel and boundary setback building consent exemption changes(external link) — Building Performance