Surveyors show pergolas on Real Property Reports because they are considered additions to the house or a building like a shed.
Encroachment into an Overland Drainage Right-of-Way
It has been my experience that many people do not understand that a pergola is treated as a building, which implies the previous homeowner may have skipped the building permit application process. As a result, pergolas are a common source of bylaw issues. In this picture, the homeowner has built a wooden pergola that extends up to the concrete swale in the back yard. This was immediately flagged as non-compliant. The landowner was given the choice to move it or apply for an agreement to keep it in place.
Encroachment onto the Neighboring Lot
If the pergola is not attached to the house, as pictured here, it will be considered an accessory residential building similar to a shed. As such, it must comply with the applicable rules. If the structure was attached to the house, it would then be considered an addition to the house and would be subject to the same land-use requirements as any other house addition.
There are many resources available from the City of Calgary
- Here is a link to the City of Calgary’s Additions Page. Surveyors pay special attention to minimum setback distances from the property line and the residential building.
- This is a link to the City of Calgary’s page dedicated to detached garages and sheds and other accessory residential buildings. Notice how it lists “garage, shed, greenhouse, pergola, gazebos,…” as similar buildings.
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