Cost · permit · scope
Pergola planning guide
Plan a pergola: freestanding or attached, the model code's 200 sq ft line, Los Angeles's 400 sq ft rule, footing concrete and one scope for every bid.
Permit complexity
Medium
Compare quotes per
structure
| Percentile | U.S. | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23.32 | $28.72 | $21.48 |
| Median | $29.12 | $36.50 | $23.51 |
| 75th percentile | $36.94 | $46.07 | $27.78 |
Pergola buying path
Touch the house, and the permit question changes.
Two pergolas of the same size can face different reviews: one on its own posts may be exempt, one hung from a ledger on the house is not, and a solid cover raises a question of its own.
01 · Stand
Choose freestanding or attached
Decide whether any post, beam or ledger will bear on the house. The model code's exemption is written for detached structures, and Los Angeles's for a pergola that no building supports.
02 · Size
Pick the line you rely on
The model code draws it at 200 square feet, Los Angeles at 400 outside any fire district, and Austin names no pergola at all. Know which one your lot answers to before the footprint is final.
03 · Cover
Name the top before the posts
Open rafters, louvers, shade cloth and solid panels load the frame differently, and a covered top can send the job to a different review. Fix the cover before anyone sizes posts or footings.
Decision matrix
Compare one specification at a time
Wood frame
Cutting and fitting on site
Specify species or treatment, post and beam sizes, rafter spacing, connectors and finish.
Aluminum kit
A factory finish with little upkeep
Specify the kit model, post count, anchor method, rated wind load and who assembles it.
Louvered or covered top
Shade and rain cover over one seating area
Specify the cover system, how it drains, post sizing for the added load and any fan or light wiring.
Quote controls
Keep every bid comparable
- Same footprint, overall height and post count
- Freestanding or attached stated, with any ledger detail drawn
- Footing diameter, depth and concrete per post itemized
- Cover, wiring and assembly priced as separate lines
- Permit responsibility and any inspections assigned
Next best action
Calculate, then lock the scope.
Size the post footings in the concrete calculator, then ask every bidder to price the same footprint, post count and footing depth as separate lines.
Start with two separate questions
No permit under the model code for a freestanding pergola up to 200 sq ft; attached to the house, it needs one.
Zoning decides where it may stand, permit or not: check the lot's setbacks before choosing the spot.
What usually decides the scope
- Attached to the house or freestanding
- Open rafters vs. solid roof
- Height
- Footing depth
- Electrical for fans or lights
Attachment
A ledger into the house is a structural connection that neither exemption covers: the model code's is for detached structures, and Los Angeles's for a pergola no building supports. Plan the permit the moment one side rests on the house.
Roof type
The exemptions describe the structure, not its top. A louvered or solid roof is worth raising with the building department before you order it, because a city that adopted the model code's patio-cover appendix caps those at one story and 12 feet.