Garden pergola: do you need a permit in Portugal?

Independent site: we are not a public authority, and this is not legal or tax advice.

A pergola is not named in the law. It is exempt if it counts as leisure equipment (equipamento lúdico ou de lazer) tied to the house and smaller than it, or as an outbuilding within 2.2 m and 10 m². Otherwise it needs a licence.

Ask for a free check

Answer

Exempt if it fits a minor-works category; otherwise a licence

Leisure equipment

Linked to the main building, with an area smaller than the main building (art 6-A(1)(e))

Outbuilding

Not more than 2.2 m high, 10 m² or less, not facing the public road (art 6-A(1)(a))

Who decides

Whether a given pergola counts is a matter for your council

Before you start

Tell the council at least 5 days before work begins, even for exempt work (art 80-A).

Heritage exception

Minor-works exemptions do not apply to listed buildings, buildings in the protection zone of a listed building (window frames excepted), or buildings inside listed groups or sites (art 6-A(2)).

Council rules

Your council can add detail in its own building regulation where the law lets it, so ask before you start.

Legal basis

RJUE art 4(2)(c) and 6-A(1)(a) and (e), RJUE (Decreto-Lei 555/99) as republished in the Annex of Decreto-Lei 108/2026

Sources

data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/108/2026/05/29/p/dre/pt/pdf

Checked

2026-11-05