Melbourne VerandasDo I need a permit for a deck or pergola in Victoria?
Usually the honest answer is 'probably, and it depends' — here's how the rules actually sort out, without pretending your specific block is settled from a webpage.
Permits are where good outdoor projects go sideways, because the rules are specific and the exemptions are narrow. This is a general guide to how Victoria treats decks, pergolas, verandahs and carports — not a ruling on your property. The thresholds are precise, and overlays or easements change things, so we always confirm against your plans and title before work begins.
The pergola-versus-verandah line
This single distinction catches more people than any other. A pergola is open — battens, slats or a permeable cover. A verandah has a solid, waterproof roof, and under Victorian rules that makes it a dwelling extension, which effectively always needs a building permit. Add one sheet of solid roofing to a 'pergola' and you've changed its legal class.
Decks
BPC guidance says a structural deck typically requires a building permit. Timber slats laid directly on an existing surface may not be treated as a deck because there is no structural subfloor, but a genuine structural deck should be checked with the building surveyor rather than relying on a simple height rule.
Building permit versus planning permit
They're different approvals. A building permit deals with building compliance and is issued by a registered building surveyor. A planning permit comes through council under the planning scheme and may be required because of the property's zone, overlays, lot size or the nature/siting of the proposal. Easements are a separate title constraint and can require authority consent. Check the property's current planning controls in VicPlan.
Who has to build it
For most domestic building work worth more than $10,000, the appropriate builder registration and major domestic building contract requirements apply. For new eligible contracts from 1 July 2026, Home Warranty generally applies to eligible domestic building work valued above $20,000.
Official sources checked
Rules and thresholds below were reviewed against current Victorian government guidance on 6 September 2026. Property-specific planning controls can still vary by title, zone and overlay.
Related services
Related reading
Common questions
Can I build a small pergola without any permit?
Sometimes. Under Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations 2018, an open pergola can be exempt from a building permit only if it meets every condition: unroofed (battens, slats or a permeable cover — no solid roof), 20 m² or less, no more than 3.6 m high, no more than 2.5 m forward of the front wall, not over an easement, and not in a heritage, bushfire or flood overlay. Miss one and a permit's back on the table — and even then, private building surveyors issue building permits in Victoria, not councils. Confirm before you build.
What happens if I build without a required permit?
It can lead to building notices, fines, and problems when you sell. Retro-fixing a non-compliant structure is far more expensive than permitting it properly the first time.
Want this applied to your place?
Every site is different. We'll give you advice specific to your block, not a generic rule of thumb.