Do I need an AAI NOC for rooftop solar?
Yes, if your building is inside an airport's height-restricted zone and the solar structure takes the building above the permissible top elevation in its existing NOC, or if the building never had an NOC. AAI measures the topmost point above mean sea level (AMSL), including every superstructure. A flush-mounted array that stays within the permitted height usually needs no new clearance; an elevated structure often does.
Why solar panels change your NOC height
Rooftop solar has grown fast across India, helped by schemes such as PM Surya Ghar for homes and open-access targets for businesses. To avoid shading and to use the roof below, many installers raise panels on steel structures, often one to three metres above the terrace.
Your AAI NOC does not grant a number of floors. It grants a permissible top elevation in metres AMSL, and the NOC terms say structure height includes any superstructure. Lift rooms, water tanks, antennas, hoardings and now solar frames all count.
Must be ≤ Permissible top elevation in your NOC
Buildings designed close to their limit have the least headroom. A society or commercial complex that used its full permitted height can cross the line with even a modest elevated array, and the NOC can then be questioned during inspections, occupancy, sale or subsidy verification.
Quick solar height check
Enter figures from your NOC and drawings to see how much headroom is left.
Which height NOC do you need?
Most clients come to us unsure which application applies. Here is how we place each case.
New NOC
Fresh application on NOCASA new building, tower, chimney, mast or industrial structure inside an airport's zoning area, before plan approval or construction.
We survey the site, compute the likely permissible height, prepare the application and follow it through to issue.
Revised height NOC
Solar, extra floor, tank, antennaAn existing building whose top elevation will rise above its current NOC, most commonly after rooftop solar, an added floor or new terrace equipment.
We measure the as-built top elevation, compare it with your NOC and apply for clearance at the revised height.
Revalidation
Before the NOC expiresYour NOC is nearing the end of its validity and construction is incomplete or delayed for reasons outside your control.
We check the conditions in your NOC letter and file revalidation in time. Requests after expiry are not entertained.
Appeal
MoCA Appellate CommitteeAAI has refused the NOC or permitted less height than the project needs.
We review the assessment, prepare technical grounds and support the appeal, or suggest design changes such as low-tilt solar.
How we get your NOC
Site and document review
We review drawings, any existing NOC and the solar layout, and check which airports and authorities apply.
DGPS survey
Our team records WGS-84 coordinates of the site corners and the site elevation in AMSL with DGPS equipment.
Height calculation
We compute the proposed top elevation, including every rooftop structure, and flag risk before you apply.
NOCAS application
We prepare and submit the online application with correct coordinates, heights and supporting documents.
Follow-up with AAI
We track the application, answer queries from the designated officer and arrange any site verification.
NOC and compliance
You receive the NOC with a plain summary of its conditions, validity and the height you must stay within.
Documents to keep ready
- Site plan or layout showing plot boundary and building footprint
- Ownership or authority document for the property
- Building section showing total height, lift room and terrace structures
- Solar layout with mounting structure height above roof
- Existing AAI NOC letter, for revision or revalidation
- Applicant details and authority letter, if a society or company applies
Coordinates and AMSL elevation come from our DGPS survey, so you don't need to arrange them.
Who we work with
Anyone whose structure has to stay within an airport's height limits.
For solar EPCs and installers
Add an NOC check to your site survey. We can assess a batch of rooftops, tell you which ones need clearance and handle the filings, so installations and subsidy claims are not held up.
Why Naksha Solutions
Survey firm, not a paperwork agent
AAI does not verify the coordinates and elevation you submit. If they are wrong, the NOC can be declared void. Our DGPS survey gives you data that holds up.
Height checked before you apply
We calculate the full top elevation, including solar frames and terrace equipment, so there are no surprises after construction.
One team, end to end
Survey, drawings, NOCAS filing, AAI follow-up and appeals are handled by the same team that understands your site.
Practical design options
When headroom is tight, we suggest workable solar layouts, such as lower tilt or reduced structure height, before you spend on steel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an AAI NOC to install rooftop solar panels?
If your building lies within an airport's height-restricted zone, any rooftop addition that raises the top elevation, including solar mounting structures, must stay within the height permitted by AAI. If the new top elevation exceeds your existing NOC, or there is no NOC, you need a height clearance NOC from AAI through NOCAS.
Why does a solar installation change my building height for NOC purposes?
AAI assesses the top elevation of the structure above mean sea level, including any superstructure. Elevated solar structures, often 1 to 3 metres above roof level, raise the highest point of the building and can push it above the permissible top elevation.
My building already has an AAI NOC. Do I need a new one after adding solar?
Only if the new top elevation exceeds the permissible top elevation in your NOC. If it does, a fresh NOC for the revised height is required. We compare your existing NOC with a surveyed top elevation to confirm.
What is NOCAS?
NOCAS (No Objection Certificate Application System) is the Airports Authority of India's online portal for applying for height clearance NOCs for buildings, masts, chimneys and other structures near airports.
How is building height measured in an AAI height NOC?
The NOC states a permissible top elevation in metres above mean sea level (AMSL). Maximum structure height equals the permissible top elevation minus the site elevation, and it includes any superstructure such as lift rooms, water tanks, antennas and solar structures.
How long is an AAI height NOC valid?
Recent AAI height NOCs are typically valid for 8 years from the date of issue, with a one-time revalidation allowed under conditions stated in the NOC letter. Revalidation requests are not entertained after validity expires, so check your NOC's terms early.
What documents are needed for an AAI height NOC?
Typically: accurate WGS-84 site coordinates, site elevation in AMSL, proposed building height including superstructures, site plan, ownership or authority document, and for revisions or revalidation, a copy of the existing NOC.
Why does AAI need an accurate DGPS survey?
AAI does not verify the coordinates and site elevation supplied by the applicant. If the actual data is found to differ, the NOC can be declared null and void. A DGPS survey gives defensible coordinates and AMSL elevation.
What if AAI permits less height than I need?
Options include redesigning the rooftop, such as lower-tilt or flush-mounted solar, or filing an appeal with the Appellate Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation within the permitted time.
Do I need a Defence NOC as well?
If the site lies within the jurisdiction of a defence aerodrome, a separate NOC from the defence authority is needed in addition to, or instead of, the AAI NOC. We check this during the site assessment.
AAI NOC consultancy across Gujarat and India
Based in Vadodara, we handle height NOCs for sites around civil and defence airfields in Gujarat and take up projects across India.
- Vadodara
- Ahmedabad
- Surat
- Rajkot
- Bhavnagar
- Jamnagar
- Bhuj
- Kandla / Gandhidham
- Porbandar
- Keshod
- Deesa
- Pan-India projects
Get your site checked
Tell us about the building and the solar plan. We'll reply with the NOC you need and what it will take.
- We review your details and check the nearest airports and their height limits.
- We call you back within one working day to confirm the scope.
- You get a clear quote covering survey, filing and follow-up.
Send us your site location and solar plan
We'll tell you whether you need a new NOC, a revised NOC or nothing at all, and what it will take.