# Can you put solar panels on a terraced house? | Eco Solar > Can you put solar panels on a terraced house in Birmingham? Roof space, shade from chimneys and back extensions, planning, scaffolding and where a battery goes. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-terraced-house/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) 2. [Guides](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/) 3. Can you put solar panels on a terraced house? Learn # Can you put solar panels on a terraced house? [Eco Solar Panel Installation Company](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) wrote this guide for Birmingham's terraced streets, using Census housing figures, PVGIS generation data and the national planning rules. Published 29 September 2026 · Updated 29 September 2026 · By Eco Solar Panel Installation Company **Short answer:** Yes. Most terraced houses can take solar panels, and they are usually permitted development, the same as any other house. The main questions are roof space, shade from chimneys and neighbouring extensions, and which way the roof faces. In Birmingham, where 27.8% of homes are terraced, a survey of the front and back slopes decides the best layout. ## Terraces are a big part of Birmingham’s housing The 2021 Census recorded [27.8% of Birmingham homes](https://www.cityobservatory.birmingham.gov.uk/explore/dataset/census-2021-factsheets/files/d3acd16ff3a7a90a5882446174cb4d1b/download/) as terraced houses, second only to semis at 35.6%. So a lot of the city’s roofs are narrow, shared-wall roofs in long straight streets, and most of them can take solar panels. ## Planning is the same as any other house A terraced house has the same permitted development rights as a semi or a detached house. [The rules](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14) allow roof panels that stand no more than 0.2 metres beyond the roof slope and stay below the highest part of the roof, not counting chimneys. The checks that matter are whether the house is listed and whether the street is in one of Birmingham’s 29 conservation areas. [Do solar panels need planning permission in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-planning-permission-birmingham/) covers both. ## Roof space A terrace roof is narrow, so the width of the slope sets how many panels fit in a row. Chimney stacks, roof windows and soil vent pipes take space too. The [Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels/) says an average home system uses about 12 panels and 20 to 30 square metres of roof. Many terraces have less than that on one slope, so smaller systems are common, and there is nothing wrong with that. A 3 kWp system on a south-facing Birmingham roof would still make about 2,910 kWh a year, according to [PVGIS](https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/) figures of 969 kWh per kWp. ## Front, back and the back extension In a straight terraced street, the front and back slopes face opposite ways. If one faces south, that is usually the slope to use. If the street runs north to south, the slopes face east and west. PVGIS gives an east or west-facing Birmingham roof about 777 kWh per kWp, and panels on both slopes spread generation across the day. Many terraces also have a back extension, sometimes called an outrigger, with its own pitched or flat roof. It can add space for panels. On a flat roof, the panels can be tilted on frames as long as they stay within 0.6 metres of the highest part of the roof. ## Shade from chimneys and neighbours Shade is the main challenge on a terrace. Chimney stacks cast a moving shadow across the slope during the day, and a neighbour’s taller extension can shade a back roof in the afternoon. In a simple system, shade on one panel drags down the output of the others wired with it. Panel optimisers, or a layout that keeps panels out of the worst shade, limit that loss. The survey should look at where shadows fall at different times of day, not just the size of the roof. ## Scaffolding and access A terrace has no side access, so scaffolding usually goes up at the front, on the pavement, or at the back through the garden or an alleyway. Scaffolding on the pavement may need the council’s permission, and the installer should arrange it. Tell your neighbours before the work starts. ## Where a battery goes The [Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/battery-storage/) says a typical home battery is about 100 by 60 by 25 centimetres. In a terrace, common places are the loft, under the stairs or a cupboard near the consumer unit, following the manufacturer’s rules on location. [Solar battery storage](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/solar-battery-storage/) covers sizing. ## Bottom line A terraced house can usually take solar panels. The survey should look at both roof slopes, chimneys, the back extension and any conservation area before suggesting a layout. If the roof is small or shaded, a smaller system with optimisers can still be worthwhile. Our quotes are free. Call 0121 330 1151 (+441213301151), 9am to 7pm, 7 days. ## Questions people also ask ### Do I need my neighbours' permission for solar panels on a terrace? Not for the panels themselves, if they are permitted development and sit on your own roof. It is still courteous to tell them, especially if scaffolding will be close to their house or needs access across their frontage. ### How many solar panels fit on a terraced house? It depends on the size of the slope and how many chimneys, roof windows and vents are in the way. The Energy Saving Trust says an average home system uses about 12 panels and 20 to 30 square metres of roof. Many terraces have less room, so a smaller system is common. ### Is a north-facing terraced roof worth it? The north slope usually isn't worth covering. If the front of your terrace faces north, the back usually faces south, and the back slope or a flat roof on the back extension is the better place for panels. Related service [Solar panels in Birmingham](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) Installation, batteries and after-care across Birmingham and the West Midlands. [View service](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/) Talk it through Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 0121 330 1151 (+441213301151) ## More guides - [Learn Do solar panels need planning permission in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-planning-permission-birmingham/) - [Decision Guide Are solar panels worth it in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/are-solar-panels-worth-it/) - [Decision Guide How much do solar panels cost in Birmingham?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/solar-panel-cost-birmingham/) - [Decision Guide Is Switch Together Birmingham worth it?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/switch-together-birmingham/) - [Learn Does adding a battery affect your Feed-in Tariff?](https://ecosolarpanelsbirmingham.co.uk/guide/battery-feed-in-tariff/)