Guide · Your roof
Can you put solar panels on a flat roof?
Checked by our MCS-certified installers · Updated October 2026
Short answer
Yes. On a flat roof the panels sit on angled frames that tilt them towards the sun — flat roofs, garages and extensions all work.
In England most homes don't need planning permission, as long as the panels stay within 0.6 m of the roof.
- Angled framestilt each panel to the sun
- Flat dormer & extensionall-black panels on both
- Within 0.6 m of the roofno planning for most homes in England
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MCS-certified installer · Cert. no. NAP/79987/26/1
How it works on a flat roof
Three things make a flat roof work as well as a sloped one.
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1
Angled frames
Each panel sits on a frame that tilts it up towards the sun. So a flat roof does the job as well as a sloped one.
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2
Held down safely
The frames are weighted or fixed down, whichever suits your roof. We check your roof can take it at the survey.
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3
Rows spaced out
We leave a gap between rows, so one row never shades the next.
Flat roofs we've fitted
Real flat roofs in Romford and Chadwell Heath. Each one has its full story.
Garages and outbuildings: the checklist
Four things we look at before panels go on a garage or outbuilding.
Is the roof strong enough?
A single-skin garage roof may need checking first. A solid extension or double garage usually takes the weight easily. We confirm it at the survey.
Is the covering in good shape?
Felt, EPDM rubber and GRP all work. If yours is near the end of its life, re-cover it first. Panels last 25+ years, and you won't want to lift them in five.
Where does the cable go?
The inverter usually goes in the garage or close by. That often means a shorter, tidier cable run than a loft install.
Can I start small?
Yes. A smaller array on the garage can be a starter system, with room in the design to grow later.
Planning permission
0.6 m above the highest part of the roof
In England, panels on a flat roof don't need planning permission as long as they stand no more than 0.6 m above the highest part of the roof. Conservation areas and listed buildings need more care.
We check your exact address at the free roof design stage, before you spend anything. The full set of limits is in do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Is a flat roof as good as a pitched roof?
Very nearly. A well-designed flat-roof array gives up very little. Because we choose the tilt and the direction, we can often face the panels south at a good angle. Many pitched roofs can't offer that.
The one trade-off: you fit a few fewer panels per square metre, because of the gaps between rows. If your home has both kinds of roof, we'll design across both.
Quick answers
Can I put solar panels on my garage roof?
Yes, if the roof is in good condition. We check it at the free survey before anything is fitted.
Do I need planning permission for a flat roof?
Usually not in England, if the panels stay within 0.6 m of the roof and you're not in a conservation area. We check for you.
Get started
Got a flat roof or garage?
We design around flat roofs, dormers and garages every week — your free roof design and fixed price, usually within 24 hours.
0% VAT on solar & battery until March 2027