Mandatory Licensing

1. The Legal Reality of Birdproofing Solar Panels

Birdproofing may seem like a minor job but legally, it’s not. It involves placing or fastening metal onto your solar installation which qualifies as a modification under Australian law.

Oxford English Dictionary: Modification (noun) – “A change made to alter or improve.”

In every state and territory of Australia, any work involving the alteration of an electrical installation including attaching mesh to a solar panel frame must be carried out by a licensed electrician or under the supervision of one.

According to the Electrical Safety Acts across Australia, and confirmed by state regulators like NSW Fair Trading, Energy Safe Victoria, and Workplace Health & Safety QLD: “All electrical installation work must be performed by a person or business who holds an appropriate electrical licence and has undergone essential training.”

This includes:

  • Attaching mesh to a solar panel frame (part of the electrical installation)

  • Modifying or working near live DC cabling

  • Drilling, clipping, or fixing materials that come into contact with panel structures

Mesh is made of metal: a conductor and the solar frame is part of a live electrical system. This means unlicensed installation can result in:

  • Short circuits

  • Electrical arcing

  • Hotspots

  • Galvanic corrosion

  • Inverter faults or total system failure

  • Voided manufacturer warranties

  • Electrocution

If birdproofing is carried out by someone without the appropriate licences, your solar warranty is legally void, no matter what the installer tells you.

2. A Pest Control Licence Is Required

Pigeons nesting under solar panels are classified as feral homing pigeons; a regulated pest species under Australian law.

To legally remove or deter them, a valid pest control licence is required.

This means:

  • Birds must be managed using approved, humane techniques

  • Only a licensed pest technician is authorised to carry out the work

  • Most roofers, handymen gutter cleaners and solar cleaners are not licensed for this

Engaging an unlicensed provider for pest management is not only illegal, but increases the likelihood of birds returning, disease spreading, and the problem escalating.

Ask These Questions Before Letting Anyone Near Your Roof

  1. Do you hold a valid Australian electrical licence for working on solar installations?

  2. Are you licensed to manage feral homing pigeons under pest control law?

  3. Can you guarantee that your installation will not void my solar warranty and why?

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

A Sydney homeowner went with a cheaper installer who promised “A lifetime warranty.” Within 18 months, the mesh was rusting. Corrosion spread to the frame, the inverter failed and the entire warranty was void. The company was unlicensed and unreachable.

Total cost: $11,000 in system repairs and mesh replacement.

This isn’t a one-off. It’s common. We see it weekly.

Contact us

Ask the right questions. Protect your solar. Choose licensed.