Solar Panels

Solar Panels in Wassenaar: What Do You Need to Know?

Solar panels are a smart investment—both for your wallet and for the climate. In most cases, you can install them without a permit. Below, you can quickly find out what applies to you.

Do you need a permit?

Take the quick check at omgevingsloket.nl. To do this, you’ll need to log in with DigiD. Do you live in a standard home that isn’t a historic landmark and isn’t located within a protected village landscape? In most cases, you won’t need a permit.

Historic Sites and Designated Village Landscapes

Do you own a historic home, a landmark building, or is your home located within a protected village landscape? If so, prior approval is required. Please contact us at erfgoed@wassenaar.nl. We’d be happy to assist you.

Rules for different situations

The house is not located in the protected village of Wassenaar. The building is not a monument and is not a landmark.

A permit is not required if you install the panels:

  • On the property itself. There are no rules for that.
  • In the form of a property boundary.
  • In the garden. Except if the garden is part of a monument or a landmark building. If you are planning to install a large structure, there may be Requirements. Please check with the municipality.
  • On an outbuilding in the backyard. Or on more outbuildings. Then solar panels are allowed on the entire roof. There is one exception: it is not allowed if there is a so-called 'excess'. This is the case, for example, if the panels are highly reflective, causing a nuisance to the neighbors. 

The house is located in the protected village of Wassenaar. The house is a monument or is iconic.

The house is located in the protected village of Wassenaar. The house is a monument or is iconic.

You need a permit in the following cases: 

  • If you want to install the panels on the building itself, the Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality in Wassenaar (OKW) | Wassenaar will provide advice. In general, the panels must not be visible from public roads.
  • If you install the panels as a property boundary, the Environmental Quality Advisory Committee will provide advice. 

You usually do not need a permit:

  • If you place the panels in the garden, for example as an installation, they must not be visible from the public highway. Are you planning to install a large installation? If so, there may be Requirements. Check with your local authority.
  • If you place the panels on outbuildings in the backyard: they may be on the entire roof, but they should not be conspicuously visible. 

The house is located in the protected village of Wassenaar. The house is not a monument and is not a landmark.

You can install solar panels and do not need a permit to do so: 

  • If you are replacing existing panels.
  • If you place panels in the garden. They may not be visible from public roads. If you are going to place a large arrangement, there may be Requirements. Check with the municipality.
  • If you place panels on outbuildings in the backyard. They are allowed on the entire roof if they are not conspicuously visible. 

You do need a permit, with a recommendation from the Environmental Quality Advisory Committee, in the following situations:

  • If your home was built after 1970, solar panels can be installed on all roof surfaces.
  • If the house is part of a row of at least five houses. Solar panels can then be installed on all roof surfaces.
  • If you have an agricultural property whose roof is not covered with slate, thatch or tiles. Solar panels can then be installed on all roof surfaces.
  • If you own a property built before 1970 that is not agricultural and is not part of a row of houses, your solar panels may not be visible from the public road, unless the panels are the same color as the roof tiles. The panels must also be installed in a row at the foot of the roof.
  • If you want to install solar panels as an easement.

The house is not located in the protected village of Wassenaar. The building is a monument or iconic.

You can install solar panels and do not need a permit:

  • If you want to install the solar panels as a property boundary.
  • If you want to install solar panels in your garden, and your garden is part of a listed building or iconic property, you will need a permit. If you want to install large systems, check with your local authority to see if there Requirements .
  • If you want to install solar panels on outbuildings that are not listed or iconic buildings, the panels may be installed on the entire roof. However, there are exceptions. For example, if they are highly reflective, causing a nuisance to neighbors.

You do need a permit with a recommendation from the Environmental Quality Advisory Committee if you want to install solar panels on the house itself. The solar panels must not be visible from the public highway.