Poland to tighten rules on residential solar panels

Polish authorities are clarifying the legal framework for installing photovoltaic panels on balconies in apartment blocks. Installations up to 150 kW do not require a building permit, but owners must obtain consent from the housing cooperative or condominium because the balcony’s railing and façade are considered common property. The panels must also be registered with the local electricity distribution operator before any surplus can be fed into the grid.

A draft regulation will also make solar panels mandatory on new residential buildings, with the first requirements set to take effect on 31 December 2026. The rule, part of a new Technical Conditions ordinance replacing the 2002 regulations, will apply to single‑family houses immediately and to larger blocks from the end of 2029, subject to technical, functional and economic feasibility. Investors will need to demonstrate that a photovoltaic system is not financially viable within a 15‑year pay‑back period to be exempted.