Building consent guide
Do you need consent for a pergola in the Christchurch City 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 Christchurch City 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.
Christchurch City Council: local conditions where we install
| Town | Rain (mm/yr) | Sunshine (hrs/yr) | Coastal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 618 | 2,128 | Yes |
Christchurch's nor'wester is a hot föhn wind that occasionally reaches storm force and causes widespread minor property damage, and snow falls on average about three times a year.
Checking with Christchurch City 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.