Do You Need Planning Permission for a Pergola?
Do you need planning permission for a pergola?
Usually not. In England most garden pergolas are permitted development, so long as they keep within the height and position limits for garden buildings. The drawing shows those limits to scale.
The short answer
A pergola counts as a garden building in planning law, and most garden buildings are permitted development. Keep within these three numbers and you normally will not need to apply.
- 2.5 mthe most it can be within 2 metres of a boundary1
- 3 mthe most elsewhere for a flat or louvred roof, or 4 metres for a dual pitched roof1
- 50%the most of the garden that buildings, including the pergola, can cover2
In planning law a building includes any structure or erection, so a pergola follows the same rules as other garden buildings.3 These rights cover garden buildings used for the enjoyment of the house, rather than as somewhere to live.2 This guide covers England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check with your council there.
The height limits
The height allowed depends on how close the pergola is to a boundary and on the shape of its roof. Louvred pergolas have a flat roof, so the 3 metre limit applies away from the boundary.
| Where the pergola stands | Most it can be |
|---|---|
| Any part within 2 metres of a boundary | 2.5 metres high2 |
| Further in, flat or louvred roof | 3 metres high2 |
| Further in, dual pitched roof | 4 metres high2 |
| Eaves, anywhere | 2.5 metres2 |
How height is measured
From the highest ground right next to the pergola up to its highest point. Decking does not count as ground level, so on a deck you measure from the ground below it.2
Where it can go
Behind the front of the house
Permitted development does not cover anything in front of the principal elevation, which is usually the side of the house facing the road.2
No more than half the garden
Garden buildings, the pergola included, can cover up to half the land around the original house. A 3 x 3m pergola covers about 9 square metres.2
On the ground, not a raised deck
Raised platforms over 0.3 metres high are not permitted development, so a pergola on low decking or a patio keeps things simple.2
Standing on its own
These rules are for free-standing garden buildings. A pergola fixed to the wall of the house is treated as an addition to the house, so ask your local planning authority before you fit one.2
When you need planning permission
Apply for planning permission, or ask your council first, in these cases.
Your home is a listed building
Any garden building within the grounds of a listed building needs planning permission.1
You live in a flat
Flats do not have these permitted development rights, so planning permission is needed.2
The pergola will be at the side of the house on designated land
That covers conservation areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Broads and World Heritage Sites.2
It will be far from the house in a protected landscape
In National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Broads and World Heritage Sites, anything more than 20 metres from the house is limited to 10 square metres in total.1
Your council has removed the rights
An Article 4 direction, or a condition on the planning permission for your house, can remove permitted development rights. Your council can tell you.2
Building regulations
Building regulations are separate from planning. A detached garden structure under 15 square metres with no sleeping accommodation generally does not need approval.4
From 15 to 30 square metres it generally does not need approval either, as long as it is at least one metre from any boundary or built substantially of non-combustible materials.4 Our 3 x 3m and 4 x 3m pergolas cover about 9 and 12 square metres, and the 6 x 3m about 17 square metres.5
Our pergolas
All three have a 6063 aluminium frame and a louvred roof that tilts up to 100 degrees, with rain draining down inside the posts. See all our pergolas.5
Outdoor Living Dual Zone louvred pergola, 3 x 3m
£999
Our most popular size, 296.6 cm square and 250 cm high. A frame for a hot tub, a dining set or a lounge area, tested to Wind Resistance Class 6.5
Outdoor Living Dual Zone louvred pergola, 4 x 3m
£1,499
An extra metre of length, 395.8 x 296.6 cm and 250 cm high, with room for seating beside a hot tub.5
Outdoor Living Dual Zone louvred pergola, 6 x 3m
£1,999
Two roof sections with their own cranks, 578 x 296.6 cm and 250.6 cm high, to cover dining and lounging under one roof.5
Pergola planning questions
Open a question to read the answer. Want to see one first? Pergolas are on display at our Hull, Carlisle and Garforth showrooms.
Do I need planning permission for a pergola?
Usually not. In England a garden pergola is normally permitted development, as long as it stays within the outbuilding limits: no more than 2.5 metres high within 2 metres of a boundary, 3 metres elsewhere (4 metres with a dual pitched roof), not in front of the house, and covering no more than half the garden with other buildings. Listed buildings, flats and some designated areas need planning permission.
How high can a pergola be without planning permission?
Within 2 metres of a boundary, up to 2.5 metres. Further in, up to 3 metres for a flat or louvred roof, or 4 metres for a dual pitched roof, with eaves no higher than 2.5 metres. Height is measured from the highest ground next to the pergola, not from decking.
Can I put a pergola in my front garden?
Permitted development does not cover anything in front of the principal elevation, which is usually the side of the house facing the road. A pergola in the front garden needs planning permission, so speak to your local planning authority first.
Do I need planning permission for a pergola in a conservation area?
In a conservation area, a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Broads or a World Heritage Site, a pergola at the side of the house needs planning permission. In National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Broads and World Heritage Sites, anything more than 20 metres from the house is limited to 10 square metres in total.
Does a pergola need building regulations approval?
A detached garden structure under 15 square metres with no sleeping accommodation generally does not need building regulations approval. From 15 to 30 square metres it generally does not either, as long as it is at least one metre from any boundary or built substantially of non-combustible materials.
Sources
- Planning Portal, Outbuildings: planning permission, accessed October 2026. Covers England.
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance, September 2019.
- legislation.gov.uk, Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 336: interpretation.
- Planning Portal, Is building regulations approval needed for an outbuilding?, accessed October 2026.
- Outdoor Living, product pages for the 3 x 3m, 4 x 3m and 6 x 3m Dual Zone louvred pergolas, accessed October 2026.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
Measure from the fence before you choose the spot. Two metres in from the boundary gives you the most freedom, and the rest is easy.