Off the back wall
A pergola attached to the house
A pergola against the house uses the back wall as one side: it's fixed to the wall on a bracket or ledger, with two posts at the front. It still counts as a garden structure under Class 3: behind the front wall, 3 m high, and within 30 m² in total (S.I. 338 of 2026).
Covering the patio off the back door: what goes into fixing one to the house.
- from €2,500a made-to-measure aluminium pergola, installed, one Irish company's published price (Superior Pergola Ireland)
- €427.95a 2.4 m × 2.4 m timber pergola kit (Mid Ulster)
- 30 m²all garden structures together, the limit to stay exempt from planning since 27 July 2026 (S.I. 338 of 2026)
- 3 m highthe most for a pergola without a tiled or slated roof to stay exempt (S.I. 338 of 2026)
FreeNo obligationOne company rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price
Fixing
How it's fixed to the wall
- Fixings into solid masonry, not just the render or an insulated outer layer. External insulation needs its own brackets.
- A flashing or gap where a roofed pergola meets the wall, so rain doesn't run down behind it.
- Clear of the back door's swing, windows, the gutter and any vents or flues.
- Front posts on pads or fixed to a sound patio.
Height
Under the gutter, under 3 m
On most two-storey houses the pergola sits under the first-floor windows, which keeps it under the 3 m limit for a structure without a tiled or slated pitched roof (S.I. 338 of 2026). On a bungalow, check the eaves height first.
Planning
What the rules say
- Behind the house: nothing forward of the front wall.
- 30 m² in total: the pergola plus every shed, garage, greenhouse and garden structure already there. It was 25 m² before 27 July 2026.
- 25 m² of garden left: private open space to the rear or side.
- Finishes: a structure to the side of the house matches the house, and so does a tiled or slated roof.
- Height: 3 m, or 4 m with a tiled or slated pitched roof.
- Use: not lived in, and only for a purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the house.
From S.I. 338 of 2026 itself, in operation from 27 July 2026 (S.I. 338 of 2026).
See it first
A pergola in your own garden
Take a photo of the patio or garden, pick wooden, aluminium or steel, and see it built before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.
- Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
- We pass it to one company that covers your county.
- They ring you with a written price.
Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.
A photo that works
- Daylight, from the back door or an upstairs window.
- The spot for the pergola in the middle of the shot.
- Include the house wall if it's going against it.
- Measure the space too: the company will ask.
Free quote
Get a pergola price in 4 taps
Tap what you want and leave your number. It goes to one pergola company that covers your county, and they ring you back to arrange a look and a written price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Can a pergola be attached to the house without planning?
Usually yes, within Class 3: behind the front wall, 3 m high, 30 m² in total and 25 m² of garden left (S.I. 338 of 2026). A protected structure is a question for the council.
Is a wall-mounted pergola cheaper?
Often, because the wall replaces two posts. The fixings and the flashing need doing properly.
Can it go over the back door?
Yes, clear of the door's swing and any vents. Mind the first-floor windows above.
Keep reading
Related guides
Where these numbers come from (1 public source, checked 3 November 2026)
Sources (2)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- Superior Pergola Ireland: superiorpergola.ie
- Mid Ulster: midulster.ie