Are you looking at ways to add some shade for your deck? If so, that prefabricated pergola that you saw at the store might have caught your eye. Please keep building and zoning rules in mind.
Shade structures on decks – Here are a few things to keep in mind when installing apergola or other shade structure on a deck.
- Decks require a building permit. Also, once your deck is built, if you decide to install a pergola on top, that may require a permit too. Various factors such as manufacturing specifics and dimensions determine if the pergola requires a permit.
- Not obtaining required permits violates the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (building code), so please work with a contractor if unsure about permit requirements or how to properly install.
- Consider installing your deck and pergola simultaneously under one building permit.
- The permit process helps ensure compliance with building code and Zoning Ordinance setback requirements. While some partial extensions into setbacks are allowed for decks with pergolas if certain height and depth limitations are met, oftentimes decks with a pergola must meet the same setbacks that your dwelling is required to meet.
- Living in a community with a Condo or Homeowners Association? Check with association management first to be sure that bylaws or other rules don’t restrict your deck project.
While getting a permit when the deck is built helps ensure safety, like all features of your home, decks may deteriorate over time and need to be maintained. Check out this County NewsCenter article for important deck safety information.
If you install your pergola freestanding in your yard, remember the Zoning Ordinance location regulations for such structures. Separately, building code requires a building permit for freestanding accessory structures greater than 256 square feet in area. Even if there’s no permit requirement, hiring a contractor and following all manufacturer installation instructions help make sure your pergola is installed in a way that avoids potential hazards.
The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) is here to help – if you have questions, want to make a report, or if you are the subject of enforcement and need to contact us. You can report problems online, learn about what happens during an investigation, reach us via email, phone (703-324-1300 / TTY 711), or visit us in person at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1016, Fairfax, VA 22035.
Deputy Director
703-324-3807, TTY 711