Description#

This error occurs when a user attempts to perform an operation that requires ownership privileges on a table, such as altering the table structure, dropping the table, or changing ownership.

Causes#

• User is not the owner of the table
• Tables created by different users (e.g., admin, migration tools)
• Ownership issues after database restoration or cloning
• Role membership changes

Solutions#

1. Check current ownership:

   SELECT tablename, tableowner
   FROM pg_tables
   WHERE tablename = 'mytable';

2. Switch to the owner role (if you have permission):

   SET ROLE owner_username;
   -- Perform your operations
   RESET ROLE;

3. Transfer ownership (requires superuser or current owner):

   ALTER TABLE table_name OWNER TO new_owner;

4. For multiple objects, use bulk transfer:

   REASSIGN OWNED BY old_owner TO new_owner;

Prevention#

• Use consistent ownership patterns when creating tables
• Document table ownership in your database schema
• Consider using role-based permissions instead of ownership-dependent operations
• Plan ownership structure before database migrations

Cloud database providers typically don't allow superuser privileges. Check with your provider about their specific permission model.

For more details on Postgres permission management, see How to Manage Postgres Users and Roles.