Background
#From 1 January 2026, Canton Bern has new solar requirements for new buildings and extensions and for certain car parks; comprehensive roof renovations have a notification requirement.
This guide answers the car-park question: new, permanent, public and managed outdoor car parks with at least 80 spaces and new outdoor P+R facilities with more than 50 spaces need a solar-active canopy when the site is suitable. At least 50% of the entire parking area must be covered; existing P+R facilities must be retrofitted by 31 December 2035 at the latest.
What applies in the canton of Bern
#“Solar obligation in Canton Bern” covers several cases: Art. 39a KEnG governs new buildings and extensions, Art. 39d the notification for comprehensive roof renovations, and Art. 39e the equipment requirement for certain car parks. This guide covers only the car-park rule; building and roof-renovation triggers and evidence must be checked separately.
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.
The process in six steps
#Tick off for your project
Record the car-park type and threshold
document 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.
Prepare the EN-Solar BE verification
the form requires evidence of the number of spaces, information on use and suitability, the total parking area and the minimum canopy area. If average annual solar irradiation is below 1,000 kWh/m², attach evidence; dimension the planned solar-active canopy in the project plans. For existing P+R facilities, also answer whether a comprehensive renovation requiring a building permit is planned.
Calculate the total area
the 50% under Art. 19h para. 1 KEnV covers parking bays, access lanes and driving lanes together. Worked example with assumptions: 1,250 m² of parking bays plus 1,000 m² of access and driving lanes gives a total parking area of 2,250 m²; 2,250 × 0.5 = 1,125 m² must be covered. These areas are illustrative only; the dimensioned plan for the actual project is decisive.
Plan the solar-active structure
Art. 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.
Define the procedure and any exemption before filing
notification 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.
Complete the PV project and fulfilment model
before 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.
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.