Re: POSTGIS | SQL Error [42501]: ERROR: permission denied to create "pg_catalog.geometry_dump"

Thank you for your response and for pointing that out — I appreciate the
guidance.

Here are the details of my environment:

- PostgreSQL version: 16.11
- Operating system: Debian 12 (bookworm)
- PostGIS version: 3.6.2 (installed via PGDG repository, package
postgresql-16-postgis-3)

Initially, I attempted to install the extension using:

CREATE EXTENSION postgis WITH SCHEMA postgis;

However, I understand now that this may not be supported as PostGIS is not
relocatable.

Using the standard command:

CREATE EXTENSION postgis;

worked successfully in the postgres database.

However, when attempting the same in another database (pg_prd), I
encountered the following error:

ERROR: permission denied to create "pg_catalog.geometry_dump"
DETAIL: System catalog modifications are currently disallowed.

The current search_path for this database is:

public, "$user"

name default_version installed_version
postgis_sfcgal 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_raster-3 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_tiger_geocoder-3 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis-3 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_tiger_geocoder 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_sfcgal-3 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_topology 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_topology-3 3.6.2 [NULL]
postgis_raster 3.6.2 [NULL]

If needed, I can provide additional diagnostic queries or outputs.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Em qui., 26 de mar. de 2026 às 18:07, David G. Johnston <
david(dot)g(dot)johnston(at)gmail(dot)com> escreveu:

> On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Sérgio Duarte <duartes(at)gmail(dot)com> wrote:
>
>> version
>> PostgreSQL 16.11 (Debian 16.11-1.pgdg12+1) on x86_64-pc-linux-gnu,
>> compiled by gcc (Debian 12.2.0-14+deb12u1) 12.2.0, 64-bit
>>
>> create extension if not exists postgis with schema sigop;
>>
>> Query execution failed
>>
>> Reason:
>> SQL Error [42501]: ERROR: permission denied to create
>> "pg_catalog.geometry_dump"
>> Detail: System catalog modifications are currently disallowed.
>>
>
> This seems more likely to be user-error than a bug. At minimum you will
> need to specify the version of PostGIS you are installing in addition to
> the platform and server into which it is being installed. I’m also pretty
> sure you don’t get to specify “with schema”. You probably need to re-read
> the instructions for how to install PostGIS and follow them exactly. That
> will likely result in an error-free installation. If not, you probably
> should report any issues to them. If they have an issue with the core
> server they can then report it here.
>
> David J.
>
>