Pergolas

You may need a Planning permit, a Building permit or both to build a pergola.

You may also need other permits, depending on your situation.

A pergola is an outdoor structure with columns that support a grid of beams and rafters. The grid may be left open or have a cover that lets water through, but it doesn’t have a solid roof.

If you're building a carport or gazebo, see our Shed, garage, carport or gazebo page.

Use the guide below to work out which permits you need to build a pergola.

More information

If you need help at any step, email [email protected] or call 03 9278 4888 and ask for our:

Statutory Planning team (information on planning or Planning Permits).
Building Services team (information on building or Building Permits).

Step 1 – Check for easements

An easement is an area of land on your property that councils and other authorities are allowed to access. When an easement is obstructed, it can prevent important maintenance work and block the flow of stormwater.

Check your Certificate of Title for any easements. If you don’t have this document, you can get a copy from the Landata website for a small fee.

Does your property have any easements?

If yes, check that your pergola plans comply with any requirements, then go to the next step.
If no, go to the next step.

Step 2 – Check for overlays

Create a Planning Property Report on the VicPlan website by entering the address of your property. This will give you the zone of your property and any overlays (restrictions).

You need a Planning Permit if your property has any of these overlays:

Heritage Overlay
Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
Public Acquisition Overlay
Environmental Significance Overlay
Special Building Overlay
Significant Landscape Overlay and your structure is 6 m or taller from the natural ground level to its highest point
Design and Development Overlay (except for Design and Development Overlay Schedule 4).

If your property is on the Victorian Heritage Register you may also need approval from Heritage Victoria. Contact Heritage Victoria for advice on how to apply for approval.

If your property has a Development Plan Overlay, contact our Statutory Planning team for advice on whether you need a Planning Permit.

Does your property have any of these overlays?

If yes, apply for a Planning Permit then go to the next step.
If no, go to the next step.

Step 3 – Check your property zone and area

Check the zone of your property in the Planning Property Report you created in Step 2.

Calculate the area of your property using the boundary dimensions in your Certificate of Title. (Tip: if your property is square or rectangular, calculate the area by multiplying the length of the property by the width).

Commercial or Public Park zones

You need a Planning Permit if your property is zoned as either Commercial or Public Park.

Mixed Use or Residential Growth zones

You need a Planning Permit if your property is zoned as either Mixed Use or Residential Growth and its area is less than 300 sqm.

General Residential or Neighbourhood Residential zones

You need a Planning Permit if your property is zoned as either General Residential or Neighbourhood Residential and all of these apply:

the area of your property is less than 300 sqm, and
the highest point of the pergola is more than 3 m above the natural ground level, and
the finished pergola floor is more than 800 mm above the natural ground level.

Does your structure require a Planning Permit?

If yes, apply for a Planning Permit then go to the next step.
If no, go to the next step.

Step 4 – Check pergola size and position

Measure the length and width of the pergola to calculate its total area. You need a Building Permit if the total area is more than 20 sqm.

Measure the pergola from the natural ground level to its top. You need a Building Permit if it’s higher than 3.6 m.

Check the position of the pergola in relation to the front of the building. Refer to the site plan. Is the pergola behind, in line with, or in front of the building’s front wall?

If it’s in line with or in front of the building, measure the distance between the front of the pergola and the front wall of the building.

You need a Building Permit if the distance is 2.5 m or more.

Does your pergola need a Building Permit?

If yes, apply for a Building Permit then go to the next step.
If no, go to the next step.

Step 5 – Check if you need any other permits

You may need other permits, depending on your situation.

If you need to:

remove, prune or do works within 2 m of a canopy or significant tree during your build, apply for a Tree Works Permit
store equipment on a road, footpath or nature strip, apply for a Road or Footpath Occupancy Permit.

If your works could impact:

driveway access to your property, apply for a Vehicle Crossing Permit
public assets, such as roads, footpath or nature strip, apply for an Asset Protection Permit.

You can begin construction:

after all your permits or permissions have been issued
if your situation does not require any permits or permissions.