Solar installation (special case) in the canton of St. Gallen: building permit required?
Depends on size and location
Short answer: solar installations under the RPG: notification (cantonal notification form 2026). Protected objects, open land, solar carport: building application.
Legal basis: Art. 136 para. 2 lit. i PBG, Art. 18a RPG. Planning and Building Act (PBG). As of October 2026. Applies within the building zone and outside core zones and protected areas. Municipalities may be stricter.
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What specifically applies in the canton of St. Gallen
Since 2026, normal roof and façade systems only need a notification. A building permit is still required for systems in core zones and protected areas, on protected buildings, free-standing systems, solar fences and solar carports. These are exactly the cases solar installers often leave aside; we take them on.
Permit-free in the canton of St. Gallen: only the minor projects listed in Art. 136 para. 2 PBG are permit-free. Shade sails, roofed pergolas and carports are considered to require a permit.
Procedure: Art. 136 para. 2 PBG lists which projects generally do not require a building permit. The Administrative Court classified a roofed pergola as a building (B 2020/75).
Submission: cantonal building application form (G1) on paper to the municipality; a cantonal eBau is planned from 2027.
Note the official municipal instructions in the canton of St. Gallen and our document checklist.
Our fixed price for a solar installation in the canton of St. Gallen
- Preliminary check CHF 149, written assessment with the procedure, documents and fee range of your municipality. Credited towards the application.
- Building application CHF 1'290, complete dossier, submission, queries and deadlines until the decision. Excl. municipal fees.
- Retrospective building application CHF 990, if a solar installation is already in place and the municipality requires an application.
Frequently asked questions
Does a solar installation (special case) need a permit in the canton of St. Gallen?
Depends on size and location. Solar installations under the RPG: notification (cantonal notification form 2026). Protected objects, open areas, solar carport: building application. Legal basis: Art. 136 para. 2 let. i PBG, Art. 18a RPG.
Which procedure applies in the canton of St. Gallen?
Art. 136 para. 2 PBG lists which projects generally do not need a building permit. The Administrative Court classified a roofed pergola as a building (B 2020/75).
Who may submit the application in the canton of St. Gallen?
No formal professional qualification is required. You give us a power of attorney; the client and the landowner sign the application.
How much does a building application for a solar system cost in the canton of St. Gallen?
Our fixed price is CHF 1'290 for the dossier, including submission and follow-up questions. Authority fees and agreed additional services are extra; the official tariff depends on the location.
Municipalities in the canton of St. Gallen
Solar system (special case) in other cantons
Solar system (special case) in the canton of St. Gallen: we submit it for you.
Assessment in 2 working days, dossier in 5. Enquire without obligation.