Short answer
Do I need a solar system for a car park in Bern?
Since 1 January 2026, new permanent, publicly accessible and managed outdoor car parks in Canton Bern with at least 80 spaces must have solar-active canopies. For new park-and-ride facilities, the obligation starts above 50 spaces. Suitable areas generally require at least 50% canopy coverage; suitability and exemptions must be assessed for the specific project.
Important
As of 28 August 2026, Bern’s car-park solar obligation is not a general retrofit duty for every existing car park: the 80-space threshold applies to new public, managed outdoor car parks, while the P+R rule covers new facilities with more than 50 spaces; existing P+R facilities have the separate deadline of 31 December 2035. The responsible authority decides on suitability, procedure and any exemption for the specific site.
At a glance
Key figures: Solar obligation for car parks Bern
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Entry into force | 1 January 2026 |
| New public outdoor car parks | At least 80 passenger cars, publicly accessible and managed |
| New P+R facilities | More than 50 outdoor spaces |
| Minimum coverage | At least 50% of the entire parking area |
| Existing P+R facilities | Equip no later than 31 December 2035 |
Decision points
What determines the right path.
Use and construction status determine the case: Art. 39e para. 1 KEnG covers new, permanent, publicly accessible and managed outdoor car parks with at least 80 passenger cars. Customer car parks with parking fees are included; the EN-Solar BE implementation guide expressly excludes regularly used employee car parks without public access.
Park-and-ride has its own threshold: new outdoor facilities with more than 50 spaces are covered under Art. 39e para. 2 KEnG. Exactly 50 spaces do not meet the wording “more than 50”; existing P+R facilities are covered no later than 31 December 2035, independently of comprehensive renovation.
Suitability is not a matter of impression but a criterion under Art. 19g para. 1 KEnV: at least 1,000 kWh/m² average annual solar irradiation and a paved surface. If one criterion is missing, the specific car-park equipment obligation does not automatically apply; other building or energy requirements may still apply.
Area calculation determines canopy size: Art. 19h para. 1 KEnV requires at least 50% of the entire parking area. The implementation guide includes not only parking bays but also access and driving lanes; 50% of the marked bays would therefore be too small a reference area.
A fixed transition limit applies to comprehensive renovation of existing P+R facilities: under Art. 19g para. 2 KEnV, the solar-active canopy must be provided no later than ten years after the provision enters into force, meaning by 31 December 2035. This special rule does not create a general retrofit duty for ordinary existing outdoor car parks.
Exemptions need a specific reason and a responsible authority: under Art. 19g para. 3 KEnV, there is no obligation for regular public events if a canopy would significantly restrict their use. An individual exemption due to technical, other use-related or economic impossibility must be justified under Art. 39e para. 5 KEnG; the building-permit authority decides. For economic disproportionality, the implementation guide states life-cycle costs at least 25% above the additional energy costs without solar as the benchmark.
Sequence
How the project stays cleanly managed.
- 1
Record the car-park type and thresholddocument the number of spaces, permanent use, outdoor location, public access and management for each subproject. Then determine whether Art. 39e para. 1 KEnG with at least 80 spaces or Art. 39e para. 2 KEnG for a P+R facility with more than 50 spaces applies.
- 2
Document suitabilityfor the entire affected car-park facility, record whether average annual solar irradiation reaches at least 1,000 kWh/m² and whether the surface is paved. If a criterion is not met, the project file must not simply assume or dismiss the car-park obligation; clarify the specific area and other building requirements with the responsible authority.
- 3
Calculate the reference area and canopythe minimum 50% under Art. 19h para. 1 KEnV refers to the entire parking area, including bays, access lanes and driving lanes. The area schedule must therefore trace markings, traffic routing, column areas and the actually covered area together.
- 4
Plan the solar-active structureArt. 19h para. 2 KEnV accepts fixed or movable photovoltaic or solar-thermal systems above the car park. For construction and operation, the implementation guide names SIA 261 and SIA 261/1 for structural actions, SIA 2057 for PV-module design and VSS 40 291 for the layout and geometry of the parking facility; fire protection, drainage and AWA requirements also belong in the concept.
- 5
Define the procedure and any exemption before filingnotification and permit procedures follow Bern legislation, and the building-permit or building-police authority checks them. If Art. 39e para. 5 KEnG is invoked, technical or use-related reasons, or the 25% life-cycle-cost test from the implementation guide, must be justified and coordinated with the building application or responsible authority.
- 6
Complete the PV project and fulfilment modelbefore quoting, plan grid connection, metering, commissioning and system acceptance separately with the responsible distribution-grid operator. Under Art. 39e para. 3 KEnG, owners may have third parties fulfil the obligation; for existing P+R facilities, the retrofit by 31 December 2035 must be tracked as a separate project deadline.
Checklist
Questions to settle before the quote.
- Distinguish the 80-space threshold for new public, managed outdoor car parks from more than 50 spaces for P+R facilities
- Document suitability with at least 1,000 kWh/m² of average annual solar irradiation and a paved surface
- Plan canopy coverage for at least 50% of the entire parking area, including access and driving lanes
- Check the P+R retrofit deadline of 31 December 2035 and event, technical and economic exemptions before filing
FAQ
More questions: Solar obligation for car parks Bern
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.
- Cantonal Energy Act, Art. 39e solar use above car parksCanton of Bern, collection of legislation
- Cantonal Energy Ordinance, Arts. 19g and 19hCanton of Bern, collection of legislation
- EN-Solar BE implementation guide, solar equipment obligation, January 2026 editionOffice for Environment and Energy, Canton of Bern
- Solar obligation from 2026: car parks and new buildingsDirectorate of Economic Affairs, Energy and the Environment, Canton of Bern