Lebanon issues new regulations for solar panel installations

Lebanese ministries, including the Ministries of Interior and Municipalities, Energy and Water, and Public Works and Transport, have issued a joint decree to regulate the installation of solar panels with a production capacity of less than 1.5 megawatts. The new framework aims to ensure environmental protection, public health, and safety.

Applicants must submit requests to their local municipality or district official (Qaimaqam). Required documentation includes official application forms, engineering certificates signed by registered structural and electrical or electromechanical engineers from the Order of Engineers, and urban planning documents. For installations on shared building rooftops, applicants must provide a map showing the distribution of surface area and obtain consent from the owners' association or 75% of property owners.

The decree establishes specific technical height limits: for buildings under 15 meters tall, panels must not exceed 3 meters above the roof level; for buildings over 15 meters, the limit is 4.5 meters. For ground-mounted systems, the highest surface must not exceed 2 meters in height, and the lowest surface must be no more than 40 centimeters from the ground. Authorities are required to process applications within 15 days, after which an unresponded request is considered tacitly approved.