Pergola & patio permits · Perth & WA
Pergola building permits in Perth, done for you.
Most pergolas and patios attached to the house need a building permit in Western Australia. We check your council's rules, prepare the plans and forms, and lodge the application, so your builder can start on time.
- Fixed price up front
- Engineering sorted
- Every Perth council
Do I need one?
Do I need a permit for my pergola?
In WA you need a building permit for a pergola or patio that has a roof covering and is either attached to the house or bigger than 10 m² (or taller than 2.4 m). Open-beam pergolas are often exempt up to a size your council sets.
- Louvred roofs count as a roof covering.
- Most decks need a building permit too.
- Close to a boundary or in a heritage area, planning approval can be needed first.
Do I need a permit?
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about 20 seconds.
At a glance
Pergola, patio and deck rules in WA
Councils add local rules, but this is where most projects land.
| Structure | Building permit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open-beam pergola, freestanding | Often not, up to a size limit | Limit varies by council |
| Roofed pergola or patio, freestanding, 10 m² or less and 2.4 m tall or less | Usually not | Planning rules still apply |
| Patio or roofed pergola attached to the house | Yes | Engineering needed |
| Louvred roof pergola | Usually yes | Louvres count as a roof |
| Verandah | Yes | Treated like an attached patio |
| Deck | Usually yes | Raised and attached decks especially |
| Enclosing a patio with walls | Yes | May become a room, with more rules |
How it works
From sketch to approved
Send us the basics
Your address, the size, and your builder's or supplier's quote or drawings if you have them.
We prepare everything
Site plan, elevations, engineering and forms, checked against your council's setback rules.
We lodge and follow up
We lodge, answer council's questions and send you the permit when it is issued.
What we handle
Everything between your design and your builder.
- Site plan showing the structure, the house and every boundary distance.
- Elevations with heights, from your supplier's drawings.
- Engineering from your supplier, or from an engineer we arrange.
- Forms and owner consent, ready to sign.
- Lodgement and follow-up until the permit is issued.
Guides
Pergola, patio and deck guides
Questions
Common questions
What is the difference between a pergola and a patio?
In everyday talk a pergola has open beams and a patio has a solid roof. Councils care about the roof, not the name. Once a pergola has roof sheets, polycarbonate or opening louvres, it is treated like a patio.
Does a louvred roof pergola need a permit?
Usually, yes. Opening louvres are a roof covering, so a louvred pergola attached to the house, or bigger than 10 m², needs a building permit. Louvre suppliers normally provide engineering for the permit.
Do I need engineering for a patio?
Yes. The permit needs proof the frame, footings and tie-downs suit the wind rating at your address. Patio kit suppliers usually provide certified engineering. For a custom timber pergola, an engineer may need to design it.
Can I build a patio on the boundary?
Often, yes, within limits. A patio post or roof close to a boundary has to meet setback and fire-separation rules. If it doesn't meet the R-Codes' standard rules, it needs planning approval first.
Does a shade sail need a permit?
Small shade sails are often exempt, but larger sails, sails attached to the house and sails with tall posts may need a permit. Councils vary, so check before you install one.
How long does a pergola permit take?
Allow a few days to prepare the application. Once lodged, council has up to 25 business days for a standard application, or 10 business days with a private building surveyor's certificate.
Long lunches start with the right paperwork.
We prepare the plans and forms, lodge with your council and deal with their questions, so your builder can start on time.