Our home is in a heritage conservation area. Council rules prohibit the installation of solar panels that are visible from the street. However, there are dozens of homes with recently installed panels that are very prominent. When I queried council, they explained that I could provide addresses of these “offenders” and they may be fined and/or forced to remove panels. I want owners who are prepared to invest in solar to be rewarded, not penalised. What can I do?
– Scott, New South Wales
Kat George says: When the old and new collide it often takes systems and regulations time to catch up. The rules about installing climate-friendly technologies on heritage homes is a prime example of where change is slow.
If you want to install solar panels on a heritage home, the general rule across most local councils is that they can’t be visible from the street. This generally applies to all modifications including second storeys and extensions. Creative design can assist you in finding workarounds for other modifications to your home, but it’s a bit tricker with solar panels.
The aspect of your roof will dictate the best place to install solar panels for efficiency – in other words, where they’re going to collect the most sun to be effective in powering your home. It’s widely considered the best angle for solar panels in Australia is north-facing, so if your street-facing roof happens to be north-aligned, it starts to get tricky. For what it’s worth, I live in a heritage terrace with a north-facing facade, so I understand your frustration at a personal level too.
That said, it’s still possible to install solar panels on a heritage home. If you’re happy to install them out of sight of the street, you’re free to proceed. But if they’re going to be visible to the street, it might take a bit more legwork on your part.
It sounds as though some of your neighbours may have taken the “ask for forgiveness not permission” route to installing solar on their heritage homes. It also sounds like forgiveness won’t necessarily be forthcoming if they’re caught. As fines and the removal of solar panels are likely to be costly, I wouldn’t recommend taking the same pathway.
To take legitimate steps towards installing street-visible solar panels to your roof, the first step is to find out if your heritage listing falls under local council or state jurisdiction (in NSW this is the Heritage Council of NSW). You can check this via the State Heritage Register.
If your home’s heritage listing falls under your local council’s jurisdiction, call them back and ask them how to apply for a development application or heritage exemption certificate. You’ll need one of these to argue your case to council about why you should be given an exemption to install visible solar panels. It will be at their discretion to approve or deny your request.
Some local councils have already taken strides to make it easier for heritage homeowners to install solar panels. The City of Sydney, for instance, has issued a guideline for exemptions to solar panel installation in heritage areas to “encourage greater uptake of sustainable and energy efficient infrastructure and dwellings”, after the local council declared climate change to be a national emergency.
If, on the other hand, you have a state heritage listing, it’s likely there will be a higher level of scrutiny to your application and you’ll need to apply directly to the Heritage Council of NSW.
As for the higher-level change you mention – of solar owners being rewarded rather than penalised – it’s likely with net zero targets looming, governments and local councils will consider better ways to support heritage homeowners to invest in green technology, as the City of Sydney has.
In the meantime, you can write to your local council and local state MPs to air your concerns. Better still, if you have the time and inclination, you can instigate community action. Letterbox your local neighbourhood, encourage others to write to local representatives, and start a petition that you can deliver to decision-makers to support your case for systemic change.
