Does a Pergola or Outdoor Room Need Planning Permission?

As a general rule, a pergola or outdoor room will usually come under permitted development rights and won’t need planning permission.

However, there are certain restrictions within permitted development to ensure these don’t interfere with a neighbour’s light or view.

An outdoor room can refer to a veranda which is a structure usually attached to the house, or an awning which is a retractable fabric cover.

It can also refer to an open, louvred (slatted) or glass roof pergola, a standalone structure, usually installed away from the house and a garden room, which is well insulated and has a closed roof made of tiles or rubber.

What are the restrictions of height?

Any outdoor structure whether it’s a garden room, pergola, awning or a veranda needs to be single story and under 4 metres high.

But if you’re planning to put up the structure within 2 metres of a boundary wall and it covers more than 50 per cent of the garden, then it can’t be higher than 2.5 metres.

I've got a big front garden. Can I put it there?

Unfortunately, not. No type of outdoor room can’t be put in the front garden of your home, only the back garden.

Are there restrictions on what I can use it for?

You can use the outdoor room for a gym, home office, dining room, studio or den for occasional use but you can’t use it to sleep in or as extra accommodation such as a holiday let or self-contained guest house.

Can I build a balcony or decking for the outdoor room?

Only if it isn’t higher than 0.3 metres.

Anything over this will contravene permitted development and could get you into trouble with neighbours or the local authority who could order you to take the structure down.

I live in a conservation area/my house is listed. Does this affect building an outdoor room?

Yes, you should contact your local authority to find out if you’re allowed to build an outdoor room or pergola because it may change the visual character of your home or the conservation area.

You can find out more about planning permission here.

I want to put electrics and plumbing into the garden room. Do I need permission?

If you’re putting in electrics and plumbing, then you need to make sure everything is compliant with building regulations.

If you buy your pergola through a respected company like ours, then our Calista pergolas are guaranteed to follow building and safety regulations when it comes to integral lighting and speakers.

Can I use any type of material to build my outdoor room?

Yes, there is no limit on what you can use to build your outdoor room though it’s always best for a new structure to match the house in style, so it doesn’t look out of place.

Our Calista pergolas are made of aluminium frames which are powder coated for longevity and can be matched to a colour of your choice.

We use thermowood-clad Kozma walls which are very stylish and provide warmth, privacy and acoustic insulation, with sizes and materials tailored to each setting.

Every Calista pergola is tailored to our customer’s exact needs, whether it will be used for extra dining space in the summer or for a sitting area in the evening, where you can enjoy the longer evenings with friends and family and watch the stars at night through the glass roof.

Ready to create a unique outdoor room?

Our Calista pergolas look fantastic and provide a wonderful addition to your home.

If you’re taking the first steps of looking for an outdoor room or already working with an architect or designer, then please contact us to speak to our experts about how we can help.