The database reports this error when the current role does not hold the privilege required to read, write, or alter the referenced object.
PostgreSQL Error 42501 – insufficient_privilege – means your role lacks the permission needed for the attempted SQL action. Grant the missing privilege with GRANT or run the statement as a superuser to resolve the problem.
PostgreSQL Error 42501
Error 42501 appears when PostgreSQL blocks a SQL command because the executing role lacks the needed privilege on a database object.
The server performs a privilege check before reading, inserting, updating, deleting, or altering any object. If the check fails, PostgreSQL stops the statement and raises insufficient_privilege.
The error triggers whenever a role without SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, TRUNCATE, REFERENCES, USAGE, or ALTER permission tries to touch a table, view, sequence, schema, or function.
It can also occur when a role without LOGIN privilege attempts to connect, or when row-level security policies reject access.
Identify the object and privilege that PostgreSQL denied by checking the query and server logs. Then grant the exact privilege to the role or switch to a higher-privileged role.
Use ALTER ROLE to add membership in a group with the required permission, or add the needed ACL entry with GRANT.
Running CREATE TABLE in a schema where the role lacks CREATE privilege – grant CREATE on that schema.
Selecting from a view that references tables the role cannot read – grant SELECT on the underlying tables or use SECURITY DEFINER.
Adopt least-privilege roles and grant only what each application needs.
Automate privilege management in migrations or with Galaxy collections so new objects receive correct ACLs.
42809 wrong_object_type: occurs when trying to grant an invalid privilege type on an object.
42501 cannot_drop_due_to_dependency: appears when dropping an object still referenced by another.
Yes. A superuser role bypasses all privilege checks, so the error never occurs.
Query information_schema.table_privileges or run \dp in psql to list ACLs.
Check row-level security policies or missing USAGE on the schema or sequence.
Galaxy’s permission-aware sharing shows which queries need extra grants and helps admins grant them directly from the editor.
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