QAZAQ GREEN.  Individuals, homeowners' associations, companies and investors in Moldova will be able to install solar photovoltaic systems, heat pumps and electricity storage installations much faster, following legislative amendments promoted by the country's Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, and adopted by Parliament.

Law No. 153/2026, amending a series of regulatory acts, was published in Moldova's Official Gazette on 6 August 2026. It removes a number of administrative barriers that had hindered the development of renewable energy projects and the modernisation of energy infrastructure, cutting the time and costs required for implementation.

According to the ministries, accelerating the energy transition means not only investment but also simpler rules and faster procedures: bureaucratic barriers for citizens and investors are being removed while all requirements on construction safety, heritage protection and project quality remain in place.

Permits scrapped for standard cases

One of the key changes is the removal of the requirement to obtain an urban planning certificate and a building permit for a series of work categories. These documents will no longer be needed for installing solar panels, heat pumps and related infrastructure:

• on the roofs, facades or plots of single-family houses, including duplexes and terraced housing;
• on the roofs and facades of apartment buildings, to supply electricity to common areas;
• on the roofs and facades of all building types regulated by legislation.

Electricity storage systems located in solar parks, as well as at commercial, agricultural, industrial or other existing or under-construction energy facilities, may also be installed without these approvals.

Simplified project documentation

For solar installations and heat pumps, design will be limited to strictly necessary components — electrical, structural and, in certain cases, architectural. Technical expert assessments remain mandatory for more complex buildings. For storage installations, documentation will cover only the general plan plus electrical, automation, structural safety and fire protection components.

Cultural heritage protections remain unchanged: approvals from competent authorities are still required in historic zones and protected areas, and installing panels on individually listed historic monuments remains prohibited.

Clear deadlines and predictability

The law also simplifies urban planning procedures for projects located outside built-up areas and sets firm deadlines for approving a Detailed Urban Plan (PUD): local councils must put the initiation of a PUD to a vote within 45 days, documentation can be submitted electronically, and mayors must approve the plan within 30 days of receiving all necessary approvals.

The appeals procedure is also changing: in the event of a negative opinion, authorities must explicitly state all identified non-conformities. Once these are corrected, a renewed rejection on new grounds is not permitted — except where the corrections themselves generate new issues.

According to the ministries, the changes are designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy and storage capacity, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen Moldova's energy security without compromising construction safety or environmental protection standards.