Short answer
What you need to know first.
Guidance for owners in Canton Zurich who want to assess before PV planning whether their roof goes through the notification procedure or whether protection obligations such as a core zone or monument protection require a formal building permit.
Important
As of 2026: in Canton Zurich, solar systems in core zones, within the scope of a townscape or monument protection inventory, under heritage protection orders, and on facades over 11 metres high remain subject to a permit; under federal law also cultural and natural monuments of cantonal or national significance. Whether the notification procedure applies to a specific property depends on building status, zoning plan and municipal requirements. The binding assessment is made by the responsible municipality or the cantonal coordination office for building permits.
Decision points
What determines the right path.
Sufficiently adapted roof systems have generally been eligible for the notification procedure in building and agricultural zones since 1 January 2023 and require no building permit. Under Art. 32a RPV, a roof system is sufficiently adapted if it projects no more than 20 cm vertically above the roof surface, does not protrude beyond the roof surface seen from above, is executed with low reflectivity and arranged as a compact surface.
On flat roofs, systems count as sufficiently adapted if they project no more than 1 metre above the roof edge and are not visible from below at a 45-degree angle. Exceeding these limits moves the project from the notification procedure into the building permit requirement.
Core zones, the scope of a townscape or monument protection inventory, and heritage protection orders trigger the permit requirement even when the design rules would be met. Under federal law, cultural and natural monuments of cantonal or national significance also remain subject to a permit.
On facades, the notification procedure in building zones is only possible for single-family houses and buildings up to a maximum of 11 metres in height. Facade systems on buildings over 11 metres remain subject to a permit, which is the most common reason for the ordinary procedure on taller apartment and commercial buildings.
Free-standing solar systems are subject to notification up to 20 square metres in building zones; in industrial and commercial zones the notification procedure is possible without an area limit. The zone classification therefore directly determines the permissible system size in the simplified procedure.
Complete submission via the local building office or the cantonal eBaugesucheZH portal is required for the 30-day deadline to run cleanly. Documents include a site plan, roof plan view, facade views, product description and an orientation plan per the VKF fire protection leaflet; together they must not exceed 20 MB.
Sequence
How the project stays cleanly managed.
- 1
Check the building and zoneis the property in a core zone, within the scope of a townscape or monument protection inventory, or under a heritage protection order? This classification decides whether the notification procedure is sufficient or a building permit is needed.
- 2
Design the system to be sufficiently adaptedplan module layout, height above the roof surface (max. 20 cm on pitched roofs, max. 1 metre overhang on flat roofs) and reflectivity so that the Art. 32a RPV requirements are met from the outset.
- 3
Compile documentsprepare a site plan (1:500/1:1000) with the system marked in red, a roof plan view, gable and eaves facade, the manufacturer's product description and an orientation plan per the VKF fire protection leaflet. The total file size must not exceed 20 MB.
- 4
Submit the notificationthe notification goes to the municipality's local building office. Municipalities connected to eBaugesucheZH accept it exclusively via that portal. In the City of Zurich, notifications are submitted via eBaugesucheZH and building permits via the Office for Building Permits (AfB).
- 5
Wait out the 30-day deadlineif nothing else is ordered within 30 days of receiving the confirmation of receipt, the solar system may be built. This period should be factored into the project timeline from the start.
- 6
Act early when a permit is requiredif the building is in a core zone, in the protection inventory or has a facade over 11 metres high, detailed plans and documents must be prepared much earlier. The ordinary permit procedure takes longer than the 30-day notification deadline.
Checklist
Questions to settle before the quote.
- Notification procedure under § 2a BVV and Art. 32a RPV since January 2023
- 30-day deadline, eBaugesucheZH and the documents to submit
- Exceptions for core zones, monument protection and facades over 11 metres
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.
- Notification procedure for solar systems, heat pumps and EV chargersCanton of Zurich, Building Directorate
- Report a solar system (documents, form, deadline)Canton of Zurich, Building Directorate
- Regulations and planning principles for solar systemsCity of Zurich
- Building law for solar systems (Art. 18a RPG / Art. 32a RPV)Swissolar (Swiss professional association for solar energy)