Short answer
What you need to know first.
Guidance for owners in Canton Aargau who want to assess before PV planning whether their project falls under the notification requirement or whether protection obligations require a formal building permit.
Important
This page provides general guidance based on cantonal regulations. Whether the notification procedure applies to a specific property depends on building status, zoning plan and municipal requirements. Protection zone boundaries and ISOS entries vary significantly by municipality. Binding assessment is made by the responsible municipality or a specialist.
Decision points
What determines the right path.
The four design requirements from §49a BauV and Art. 32a RPV determine whether the notification procedure is sufficient: compact surface, max. 20 cm from the roof surface, 45° visibility from the roof edge, and low-reflectivity execution per current standards. If all four are met, no building permit is required.
Monument protection and substance protection are the most common reason why a building permit must be submitted despite the formal notification procedure. This classification is determined at the municipal level and sometimes cantonal level, and should be checked before the quote stage.
ISOS townscapes of national significance, and village, old town and core zones, are subject to elevated requirements for townscape and landscape. In these zones, a building permit is required even if the general design requirements would otherwise be met.
Industrial, commercial and work zones are more permissive: solar systems there are still only subject to notification even if they protrude more than 20 cm from pitched roofs or exceed the flat-roof edge by more than 1 metre.
Complete and consistent submission of the AG-Solar notification form on the EVEN platform with elevation plan and section drawing is required for the 30-day period to start cleanly. Incomplete documents can cause queries and delays.
Facade installations were previously subject to full building permit requirements. From 2026, facade installations meeting certain conditions can also be handled via the notification procedure. Anyone planning a facade PV system should confirm the current status directly with Canton Aargau.
Sequence
How the project stays cleanly managed.
- 1
Check the building and locationis the building listed in cantonal or municipal protection inventories? Is it in an ISOS zone, village, old town or core zone? This clarification determines the procedure, notification or building permit.
- 2
Embed design requirements in the planning stageset out module layout, distance from roof surface and roof edge, and reflectivity to meet §49a BauV and Art. 32a RPV requirements from the outset. Late design changes cost time.
- 3
Fill out the AG-Solar notification form on the EVEN platform and submit completely: an elevation plan showing the planned installation and a section drawing must accompany the notification. Incomplete forms extend the effective waiting period.
- 4
Plan for the 30-day periodconstruction may only begin once 30 days have passed since the municipality received the notification and no objections have been raised. This period should be factored into the project timeline from the start.
- 5
Act early when a building permit is requiredwhen a building permit is mandatory, detailed plans, documents and any pre-consultations should be prepared much earlier in the project. Permit procedures take longer than the notification procedure and can shift installation start dates.
Checklist
Questions to settle before the quote.
- Design requirements under §49a BauV and Art. 32a RPV
- Exceptions for listed buildings, ISOS townscapes and protected zones
- EVEN notification form, documentation and 30-day deadline
FAQ
Common questions on this topic.
Sources
Official sources & references.
The responsible authorities are decisive. Always verify binding details – amounts, deadlines and conditions – for your specific property against the current status of the respective authority.