Sourcing solar carports and EV canopies from China
A solar carport frame from China is a structure: steel structures under 7308 90 98 90 showed 0% UK duty and aluminium structures under 7610 90 90 95 showed 6% on 26 October 2026. In England, canopies over non-domestic car parks can use permitted development Class OA if no part is over 4 metres high or within 10 metres of a home, subject to prior approval.
Products and search terms
solar carport, PV carport, solar canopy, EV charging canopy, carport mounting structure, car park solar
Decide what you are buying from China
Most UK projects buy the steel or aluminium frame, purlins, fixings and drainage gutters from China, and source panels, inverters and charge points separately. Agree that scope in writing. A factory price that includes panels hides two different duty treatments and two different warranty chains.
Panels have their own rules and duty; see sourcing solar panels. Cables and connectors for the DC side are covered in photovoltaic solar cable and photovoltaic DC connectors. Charge points under the canopy are covered in sourcing EV chargers.
Planning: Class OA in England
The General Permitted Development Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 14 Class OA, permits a solar canopy over an area lawfully used as off-street parking, other than parking for a dwellinghouse or block of flats. It is not permitted where any part would exceed 4 metres above ground level, sit within 10 metres of the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or block of flats, or sit within the curtilage of a listed building or on a scheduled monument.
Before starting, the developer must apply to the local planning authority to decide whether prior approval is needed for siting, design and external appearance, in particular glare on neighbouring premises. The work must be completed within 3 years of that approval or determination, and the canopy removed when no longer needed. Check the height of your chosen design, including panels and tilt, against the 4-metre limit before you order. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own planning rules.
Structural sign-off belongs to a UK engineer
A factory drawing set is a starting point, not a UK design. Have a UK structural engineer check the design for the site's wind and snow loads, the foundations, vehicle impact protection and the clear height for the vehicles that will use the bays. Ask the factory for calculations, material certificates for the steel or aluminium grade, and the coating specification so the engineer can review them.
Agree the corrosion protection (hot-dip galvanising thickness or anodising and powder coating) and how cut ends and bolt holes are protected, because coastal and gritted car parks are harsh. Write the accepted drawings into the product specification before the deposit.
Duty: steel and aluminium structures differ
Frames shipped as structures or parts of structures are classified by material. The UK Trade Tariff API, read on 26 October 2026, shows the rates below and no anti-dumping measure on China for either line. Steel products in chapter 73 can be affected by the UK steel trade measure; ask your customs agent to confirm the code and any measure for each component, especially loose steel sections, tubes or plate.
Fixings, clamps and rails shipped loose may fall under other codes. Classify the main components separately rather than declaring the whole kit under one line.
| Goods | Commodity code | Third-country duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structures and parts of structures of iron or steel (other) | 7308909890 | 0% | None shown |
| Aluminium structures and parts of structures (other) | 7610909095 | 6% | None shown |
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Inspection and shipping
At pre-shipment inspection, check section sizes and wall thickness, coating thickness readings, hole positions against the drawings, weld quality, part marking that matches the assembly drawings, and the fixings count. A missing bracket stops an installation crew on site.
Long sections need container planning; use the shipping volume calculator for a first estimate. Cambridge China Bridge can check the factory, arrange the inspection and quote delivered to site through our services.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need planning permission for a solar carport in England?
Canopies over non-domestic off-street parking can use permitted development Class OA within its limits, but the developer must first apply to the local planning authority about prior approval for siting, design and appearance.
Can the Chinese factory's calculations be used for UK approval?
They help, but a UK structural engineer should check the design against the site's wind and snow loads and the foundations before you order.
Is duty lower on steel or aluminium frames?
On the tariff checked on 26 October 2026, the steel structure line showed 0% and the aluminium structure line 6%. Confirm the code for your components and any steel measure with your customs agent.