Background
#For a PV building permit in Obwalden, the notification procedure is generally sufficient for a suitably adapted roof system outside protected areas; an ordinary building application is required, among other cases, in protected areas, for protected objects, ground-mounted and infrastructure systems, and for certain facade systems.
Under Art. 32a RPV, a pitched-roof system may project no more than 20 cm, may not extend beyond the roof when viewed from above, and must be low-reflection and compact; on a flat roof, the limits are 1 m above the roof rim and the 45° visibility test from below. The notification form goes to the municipal building office before construction starts; for a permit-free system outside the building zone, the municipality forwards it to the Cantonal Building Coordination within five working days.
The competent authority confirms the exemption from a permit in writing within 30 days; only then may the system be installed. A reliable preliminary review requires the site, protection status, elevations, cross-section, technical information and, for PV, the routing of DC cables, inverter and electrical disconnects to be consistent.
For your roof
What fits on your roof?
Enter your address to see roof area, yield and a guide price from federal data. We then clarify notification or permit with your municipality.
Free and non-binding · no unsolicited calls
Rather talk directly? +41 78 615 90 58
What applies in the canton of Obwalden
#The site determines the procedure first. Under Art. 2 AB Solar, systems in protected surroundings and townscape protection areas, on protected objects, and in cantonal landscape protection areas, nationally important landscapes and moorlands require a permit. Section 6 of the notification form therefore asks for the zone, water corridor, hazard zone and protection status.
Roof geometry determines whether the federal requirements for a suitably adapted system are met. Art. 32a RPV limits the projection on a pitched roof to 20 cm perpendicular to the roof; viewed from above, the system may not extend beyond the roof surface. For a flat roof, the limits are 1 m above the roof rim, a setback preventing visibility from below at 45 degrees and low reflectivity.
The cantonal design rules go beyond the federal formula. On pitched roofs outside protected areas, Annex 1 of the AB Solar additionally requires visible parts to be full black or roof-coloured, and either full roof coverage or sufficient clearance on all sides from ridge, roof edge and eaves. A formally adapted but visibly irregular array is therefore not automatically eligible for notification.
The system type and installation location can reverse the result. Under Annex 2, facade systems generally require a permit; notification remains available only in working zones or up to 12 m² in building zones, provided no protection interests conflict. Ground-mounted and infrastructure systems require an ordinary building application.
The filing time is a hard boundary. The notification form must be with the municipal building office before construction starts. The 30 days refer to the written confirmation that no permit is required; installation may begin only after that confirmation has been issued.
Outside the building zone, a cantonal review body is added. Under Art. 4 AB Solar, the municipal building office forwards the notification to the Cantonal Building Coordination within five working days. In an ordinary procedure, that office coordinates the necessary cantonal permits and prepares the overall decision.
The process in six steps
#Tick off for your project
Classify the site before requesting a quote
using the zoning plan and section 6 of the Obwalden notification form, check the building zone, agricultural or alpine zone, water corridor, hazard zone, protected object, townscape protection and landscape or moorland protection. If a protection flag appears, do not continue planning on the notification path.
Classify the system and document its design
for a pitched roof, document the 20 cm limit, roof-surface projection, low reflectivity, compactness, full-black or roof-coloured appearance and clearances from ridge, roof edge and eaves under Annex 1 of the AB Solar. For a flat roof, draw the 1 m limit and 45-degree visibility test; treat facades, ground-mounted and infrastructure systems separately as possible permit cases.
Compile consistent notification documents
the current form is submitted signed in three copies and electronically to the municipal building office. Attach dimensioned plans and elevations, a cross-section through the system and roof or facade, a photograph or aerial or satellite image, technical information and, for PV, an overview plan showing DC cables, the inverter and electrical disconnects.
File through the correct procedure
the notification form must reach the municipal building office before construction starts. If the site is outside the building zone, the municipal office forwards the notification to the Cantonal Building Coordination within five working days. For a system requiring a permit, file the ordinary building application with the required plans instead.
Wait for written confirmation
within 30 days, the competent authority confirms whether the design rules for a permit-free system are met. Installation may begin only after the municipal building office has confirmed compliance in writing. If requirements are not met, the authority states what must change or that a building application is required.
Complete execution and follow-up
within 30 days after installation, submit photo documentation to the building office so compliance with the design rules can be checked. If the authority finds deficiencies, it may order the necessary changes; changes to the approved design should therefore be clarified again before installation.
Checked for your roof, not just read up on
What fits on your roof?
Enter your address to see roof area, yield and a guide price from federal data. We then clarify notification or permit with your municipality.
Free and non-binding · no unsolicited calls
Rather talk directly? +41 78 615 90 58
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.