Background
#Since 1 January 2026, a building permit for a PV facade in the Canton of Fribourg is often not required: a sufficiently integrated system must be notified to the municipality no later than 30 days before work begins.
Art. 32abis RPV requires, among other things, an appropriate surface layout, a maximum 20 cm distance from the facade, parallel mounting and uniform, low-reflection materials. A building permit remains necessary on cultural monuments and in landscapes of cantonal or national significance. For a permit-required file, the Canton of Fribourg uses the FRIAC application; the responsible municipality decides whether notification or a permit applies to the specific building.
What applies in the canton of Freiburg
#The date of the facade project is the first decision point. Since 1 January 2026, Art. 18a para. 1 RPG covers sufficiently integrated facade systems in addition to roof systems; in Fribourg, the notice under Art. 87 para. 3 RPBR must reach the municipality no later than 30 days before work begins. A late classification shifts the installation date.
The layout must meet at least one condition in Art. 32abis para. 1 RPV. Possible routes include one compact contiguous rectangle, regularly repeated rectangles, uniform replacement of existing facade elements, a fully covered gable surface or a colour as similar as possible to the adjacent facade; letters f and g are currently not applicable in Fribourg because the canton has not enacted corresponding facade legislation.
Additional geometry determines whether the system is exempt from a permit. Art. 32abis para. 2 RPV requires that modules do not cover existing structural or ornamental elements, do not extend beyond the facade edges when viewed from the front, and are no more than 20 cm from and parallel to the facade. These dimensions belong in the facade elevation of the quote.
Protection status takes precedence over the design exemption. Under Art. 18 paras. 3 and 4 RPG, solar systems on cultural monuments or in landscapes of cantonal or national significance remain subject to a permit. On protected buildings or in protected built sites, the municipality issues the permit and obtains the opinion of the Service for Cultural Heritage.
The procedure determines the documents. For notification, the Fribourg solar-system notification form sent to the site municipality is decisive; a formal application for an ordinary, simplified or preliminary review procedure is entered in FRIAC. Mixing the two routes risks an incomplete filing or an incorrect start date.
Glare and material selection remain relevant even without a building permit. The canton requires low-reflection solar systems as a precaution; risk is particularly elevated where a reflective surface faces north below other buildings or is installed at an angle of at least 60 degrees. This situation belongs in the technical review before ordering.
The process in six steps
#Tick off for your project
Classify the building and site
record the municipality, building zone, facade orientation, cultural-monument status, built-site protection and landscape protection. Art. 18a RPG frames the standard case, while Art. 18 paras. 3 and 4 RPG define protected cases; if protection applies, involve the municipality before detailed design.
Develop the facade layout under Art. 32abis RPV
choose and document a compact or regular rectangle layout, uniform replacement of existing elements, a fully covered gable surface or a similar colour. The selected route and its rationale belong in the plan and product description.
Check geometry and reflection
the facade elevation and section must show the maximum 20 cm distance, parallel mounting, facade edges and unobstructed structural or ornamental elements. Assess glare risk separately where a north-facing surface is below other buildings or has an inclination of 60 degrees or more.
Set the procedure and timing
for a sufficiently integrated system, send the Fribourg notification form with the required documents to the municipality and plan work with a complete 30-day lead time. If protection status or insufficient integration applies, switch to the building-permit procedure.
Prepare the permit file in FRIAC if an application is required
the Canton of Fribourg requires ordinary, simplified and preliminary-review applications to be entered in FRIAC. Protection evidence, facade plans, sections, material details and the technical rationale must describe one consistent project version.
Coordinate the decision and execution
for protected buildings, the municipality issues the permit and involves the Service for Cultural Heritage. After notification or approval, align installation, fire safety, fall protection, electrical planning and later grid-operator documents exactly with the facade solution submitted.
Checked for your roof, not just read up on
Once the framing is clear, a property-specific check with roof, grid and documentation is worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
#Sources
#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.