Do I need planning permission for a patio cover?
Often not. Many patio covers can be built without a permit, but certain conditions apply. Below are the main rules, so you know what to look out for before you order.
The main rules
- Behind your house. Permit-free building applies to the rear garden area: behind a line one metre back from the front of your home. Stricter rules apply at the front of your house.
- Height. If the patio cover stands more than four metres from your home, the maximum height is three metres. If it is attached directly to your home, it may be taller, but no more than thirty centimetres above the floor of the first storey.
- Surface area. How much you may build depends on the size of your plot. As a rule of thumb, you may not build on more than half of the rear garden area, and there is a maximum that scales with the size of your plot.
- Use. The patio cover may not become a self-contained living space.
When you do need a permit
- You live in a protected townscape or village conservation area, or your house is a listed building.
- The patio cover is at the front or side, next to public space.
- You exceed the height or surface area limits.
- Your municipality's zoning plan or environmental plan sets its own requirements. This happens more often than people think.
Always check for yourself
Rules differ per municipality and change over time. So always carry out the permit check on the government's Omgevingsloket portal and, if in doubt, call your municipality. It takes ten minutes and saves hassle later on. We are happy to help you think about dimensions, but the permit check remains your responsibility as the owner.
Good to know
If you are just over a limit, it is often smarter to adjust the depth or height slightly rather than go through a permit application. In our 3D configurator you can see straight away what a different size does to the price.