Is it possible to install solar panels on the balcony of an apartment building?

“A concerned resident contacted one of the capital’s elderships after noticing solar panels installed on the balcony of an apartment building in his yard. He was concerned about whether it was legal, whether it posed a threat to the residents of the building and pedestrians passing under the balconies, and what institution regulates these processes. Delfi Būstas took an interest in these issues.

 

A permit is usually not required, but there are exceptions

 

Gabrielius Grubinskas, a media relations specialist at the Vilnius Municipality Communication Department, assured that installing solar panels on the balcony of an apartment building is certainly not prohibited if residents take all necessary steps. According to him, installing solar panels on the facade of an apartment building is classified as simple repairs, and such work in an apartment building does not require a construction permit.

 

However, as he assures, there are exceptions. “A construction permit is required when the apartment building is located in a protected area, a cultural heritage area, or the building itself is a cultural heritage site. object and when simple repair works make significant changes to the appearance of the building. Significant changes to the appearance are defined as the attachment of various equipment, engineering systems or structures with a volume of more than 0.01 m³ to the facade or pitched roof of the building,” said the specialist.

 

The response of the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate (VTPSI) emphasizes that a construction permit is mandatory if the installed equipment changes the appearance of the building. However, in most cases, this can be avoided when installing solar panels. But a description of simple repairs must be prepared, and when a construction permit is required, a simple repair project.

The approval of the majority of neighbors is required

 

According to the laws in force in Lithuania, the balconies of apartment buildings and the facade of the building are common objects belonging to all apartment owners – this is stated in the Civil Code and the Law on Apartment Building Communities. According to G. Grubinskas, since all owners of apartments and other premises in a house are co-owners of the facade and decisions on changes are made by majority decision, in all cases it is mandatory to obtain the written consent of the majority of apartment owners in the house (50 percent + 1) to install solar panels.

 

VTPSI emphasizes that municipal administrations are responsible for the installation of solar panels on balconies or on the facades of apartment buildings, therefore, if necessary, they can provide additional consultations and supervise that construction work complies with the requirements of legal acts.

Support is available

 

Few residents know that even when installing a solar power plant on a balcony, it is possible to apply for support. However, as stated by APVA Communication Department Head Eglė Pliuskuvienė, APVA does not have a separate support measure specifically for the installation of solar power plants on balconies.

 

“Simply all residents of the country who have installed their own solar power plants in households or increased their installed capacity have the opportunity to take advantage of state support,” said the specialist. According to the terms of the current call, residents who have installed new solar power plants or increased the installed capacity of existing power plants can apply for support no earlier than February 1, 2022. This means that all documents confirming the purchase and installation of equipment (VAT invoice or invoice, acceptance and transfer act, contractor's declaration and property boundary act) must be issued no earlier than this date and no later than the date of submission of the application and payment request (submitted together).”

 

Applications for support are accepted until October 31 or until the entire amount of funds provided for the calls is exhausted.

 

According to her, consumers who install a new solar power plant in their household can receive 255.07 EUR per 1kW, and those who increase the installed capacity of their existing solar power plant will receive a grant of 191.16 EUR per 1kW.

 

The maximum grant amount for one electricity consumption object (building) is no more than 10 kW of installed capacity. If residents have already used the support during previous calls and installed a solar power plant smaller than 10 kW, the grant can be paid to the same electricity consumption object, but not to achieve a total installed capacity of more than 10 kW.”