Deck & pergola rules in Australia
Whether you need approval to build a deck or pergola depends mostly on how high it sits above the ground and whether it is attached to your house, and each state draws the line differently. A low, freestanding deck is often exempt or 'low-risk' work that needs no approval, while a raised or attached deck usually needs a building permit or certification. Heritage listings and flood or bushfire constraints switch off the exemptions almost everywhere.
The short version
- For decks the usual trigger is a building permit, not a planning one, and it hinges on height above the ground plus whether the deck is attached to the house.
- A low deck (roughly 500 mm to 1 m above ground and modest in size) is exempt or 'low-risk' in most states, with no approval needed.
- Raised decks, and almost any deck attached to the house, need a building permit or building certification.
- A pergola stays approval-free while it is roofless; add a solid roof and it becomes a verandah that usually needs approval.
- Heritage listings and flood or bushfire overlays remove the exemptions, so those sites need approval regardless of size.
Decks & Pergolas rules by state
Frameworks differ across Australia. Pick your state for the size limits, setbacks, approval pathway and FAQs — then check your address for overlays.
A deck, balcony or patio can be built as exempt development, with no DA or CDC, if it is no more than 25 m² in floor area, sits no higher than 1 m above ground, is behind the front building line and set back at least 900 mm from side and rear boundaries. Bigger or higher structures need a Complying Development Certificate or a Development Application.
Decks & Pergolas rules in NSW →A low deck usually needs no building permit: a freestanding deck no more than 10 m² and no higher than 800 mm above the ground is exempt. Any deck attached to the house, or more than 800 mm above ground, needs a building permit. A planning permit is generally only needed if a planning overlay (heritage, etc.) applies.
Decks & Pergolas rules in VIC →A low freestanding deck can be exempt from building approval if it is under 10 m², no more than 1 m above ground, unroofed, not attached to the house and has no side longer than 5 m. Most decks, especially those attached to a house or raised for a view, need building approval from a building certifier.
Decks & Pergolas rules in QLD →A deck in association with a house is exempt development if no part of its floor is more than 500 mm above natural ground. Higher decks, and roofed verandahs, generally need development approval, though many small verandahs and decks are assessed quickly on the deemed-to-satisfy pathway.
Decks & Pergolas rules in SA →Planning (development) approval is generally not needed for a house deck 500 mm or less above natural ground, or higher if it meets setback and privacy rules. A building permit, however, is required for most decks: councils commonly require one once a deck is over 500 mm high, over 20 m², or within 900 mm of a boundary.
Decks & Pergolas rules in WA →A deck less than 1 m above the ground is 'low-risk work' in Tasmania: no building permit and no building surveyor needed, and an owner or competent person can build it, though it must still comply. At 1 m or more above ground it becomes 'notifiable work' and needs a building surveyor. Pergolas up to 18 m² and 3.5 m are also low-risk.
Decks & Pergolas rules in TAS →An unroofed deck can be exempt from both a Development Approval and a Building Approval if its floor is no more than 1 m above ground, its highest point is no more than 3 m off the ground, and it has no unsupported span over 4 m. Unroofed pergolas up to 3 m high (behind the building line and 1.5 m off side and rear boundaries) are also exempt.
Decks & Pergolas rules in ACT →In the NT's building control areas (Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Alice Springs, Katherine and more) a deck or verandah is structural work that needs building certification and a permit. Some freestanding, non-commercial Class 10 shade structures are exempt under Building Note 114, and a self-certifier can certify verandahs up to around 36 m².
Decks & Pergolas rules in NT →Frequently asked questions
Do I need council approval to build a deck in NSW?
Not if it qualifies as exempt development: no more than 25 m² of floor area, no higher than 1 m above ground, behind the building line and set back at least 900 mm from side and rear boundaries. Outside those limits you need a CDC or a DA.
Do I need a building permit for a deck in Victoria?
Not for a freestanding deck that is 10 m² or less and no higher than 800 mm above the ground. Any deck attached to the house, or more than 800 mm high, needs a building permit from a registered building surveyor.
Do I need building approval for a deck in Queensland?
Only some decks are exempt. A deck can avoid building approval if it is under 10 m², less than 1 m above ground, unroofed, not attached to the house and has no side over 5 m. Most decks, especially attached or raised ones, need approval from a building certifier.
Do I need approval to build a deck in WA?
A house deck 500 mm or less above natural ground usually needs no planning approval. A building permit is still required for most decks, and councils commonly require one once a deck is over 500 mm high, over 20 m², or within 900 mm of a boundary.
Do I need approval to build a deck in South Australia?
A deck with no part of its floor more than 500 mm above natural ground is exempt from planning approval. Higher decks generally need development approval, and most raised decks also need separate building-rules consent.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Tasmania?
Not for a deck less than 1 m above the ground, which is low-risk work needing no building permit or building surveyor. A deck 1 m or more above the ground is notifiable work and must be handled by a building surveyor.
Related building rules
This page summarises statewide rules for general guidance only and is not professional planning advice. Requirements vary by council and change over time — always confirm with your local council or a qualified planner. Last reviewed: July 2026.
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