Building consent guide
Do you need consent for a pergola in the Ashburton District Council area?
An open, unroofed pergola usually doesn't. A roofed cover - a canopy, louvre roof or metal-roofed pergola - only avoids consent if it fits the awning or carport size limits; otherwise it needs a building consent. Here are the national rules, where to check with Ashburton District Council, and how we help.
The short version
- Open, unroofed pergola: exempt at any size.
- Roofed cover attached to the house (an awning under the rules): up to 20 m² exempt; 20-30 m² at ground level if a licensed building practitioner or chartered engineer is involved.
- Carport with at least one open side: up to 20 m² exempt; 20-40 m² with a licensed building practitioner or chartered engineer.
- Anything larger, or fully enclosed like a sunroom: building consent needed.
Ashburton District Council: local conditions where we install
| Town | Rain (mm/yr) | Sunshine (hrs/yr) | Coastal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashburton | 724 | 2,313 | No |
Ashburton has frosts on about 51 nights a year and occasional snowfall, the heaviest being 38 cm on 12 June 2006.
Checking with Ashburton District Council
Enclosed structures such as sunrooms are more likely to need consent than an open pergola. Where consent is needed, we tell you at the measure, before you commit.