Most garden pergolas in England can go up without planning permission, under what are called permitted development rights. Councils usually treat a freestanding pergola as an outbuilding, so the rules for outbuildings apply. Here they are in plain English, along with the situations where you should check first.
The permitted development rules for a pergola
Your pergola will usually not need planning permission if it meets all of these:
- Height near a boundary. If any part of it is within 2m of a boundary, such as a fence, wall or hedge line, it can be no more than 2.5m high.
- Height elsewhere. At least 2m from every boundary, it can be up to 3m high with a flat roof, which covers most louvred pergolas, or 4m with a dual-pitched roof. The eaves can be no higher than 2.5m.
- Not in front of the house. It can’t be built forward of the principal elevation, which is usually the front of the house facing the road.
- The 50% rule. Outbuildings and extensions together can’t cover more than half the land around the “original house”. That means the house as it was first built, or as it stood on 1 July 1948 if it’s older, so extensions added by previous owners count too.
- No raised platform. It can’t sit on a veranda, balcony or raised platform more than 0.3m high. A pergola on high decking may need permission.
- Single storey only.
In practice: if you want a pergola taller than 2.5m, it needs to sit at least 2m from every boundary. Every Remanso model is 2.5m high, and a made-to-measure Morvelle Custom can be built to whatever height keeps you within the rules.
When you’re more likely to need planning permission
- Listed buildings. Any outbuilding within the grounds of a listed building needs planning permission, and you may also need listed building consent.
- Conservation areas and other designated land. In conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), the Broads and World Heritage Sites, an outbuilding at the side of the house needs planning permission.
- More than 20m from the house on protected land. In National Parks, National Landscapes, the Broads and World Heritage Sites, buildings more than 20m from the house are limited to 10 square metres in total.
- Flats and maisonettes. These don’t have permitted development rights for outbuildings.
- Removed rights. Some homes have had permitted development rights removed by an Article 4 direction or by a condition on the original planning permission. This is common on newer estates.
- Fixed to the house. A pergola attached to the wall of your house may be treated as an extension rather than an outbuilding, which has different limits. Ask your council if you’re not sure.
How to check
- Use the Planning Portal’s interactive guide to outbuildings.
- Contact your local council’s planning department. Many offer pre-application advice.
- For peace of mind, apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. It confirms in writing that your pergola doesn’t need planning permission, which can also help when you sell your home.
These are the rules for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own.
What about building regulations?
An open pergola doesn’t usually need building regulations approval. The electrics for lighting, motors and heaters are different: new outdoor electrical work must be done by a qualified electrician and certified.
We’ll check it on the site visit
When we visit, we look at where your pergola will go, how close it is to your boundaries and how high it needs to be. If anything needs checking with the council, we’ll tell you before you order.
This guide gives a general overview and isn’t legal advice. Always confirm with your local council if you’re unsure.
Ready to see our range of pergolas?
We supply and install three ranges of aluminium louvred pergola: the Titan, with a roof you adjust by hand, the electric Remanso, and the made-to-measure Morvelle Custom. Click here to see our range of pergolas.