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What is a pergola?

A pergola is an outdoor structure of posts, columns or pillars that carries an open or permeable roof of beams, rafters or trellis instead of a solid roof.

InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.

By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

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What is the purpose of a pergola?

A pergola mainly gives shade. The U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 home renovation guide lists pergolas among exterior ways to shade a home, and the National Park Service describes vines on a historic pergola at Cumberland Island National Seashore: “Exterior shading options include trees, porches, awnings, pergolas, trellises, working shutters.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America, read 2026-10-28. “Vining plants crept up and over the pergola and provided shade and cooler temperatures.” Source: U.S. National Park Service, Cumberland Island National Seashore, read 2026-10-28.

How does a Michigan zoning code define a pergola?

In Bloomfield Township, Michigan, the zoning code added a pergola definition in 2023 that names its columns and open roof beams and sets it apart from solid-roofed structures: “Pergola means an open sided, trellis style structure that includes columns and open horizontal roof beams, and not a solid roofed structure like a canopy or gazebo.” Source: Charter Township of Bloomfield, Michigan, read 2026-10-28.

Pergola roof

A pergola roof is open framing rather than a solid cover. In Alexandria, Virginia, Section 2-183 of the zoning ordinance describes that roof as crossing rafters or trellis held up by colonnades or pillars: “A structure of colonnades or pillars supporting an open roof of crossing rafters or trellis that may be freestanding or connected to a building.” Source: City of Alexandria, Virginia, read 2026-10-28.

Pergola vs gazebo

Codes tell the two apart by how they are built and where they stand. The City of Goose Creek, South Carolina, defines both terms in its residential accessory structures policy, giving the pergola a permeable roof covering: “Pergola - A roofed structure that is of post and beam construction with a permeable roof covering.” Source: City of Goose Creek, South Carolina, read 2026-10-28. “Gazebo - A roofed structure that is screened, latticed or open on all sides and not attached to the dwelling.” Source: City of Goose Creek, South Carolina, read 2026-10-28.

Aluminum pergola

Pergolas are framed in metal such as aluminum or in wood. One community pattern book filed with the City of Hialeah, Florida, limits pergolas there to metal or aluminum in dark bronze, and a City of Cotati, California, carport and pergola handout lists the wood species for framing: “Pergola materials shall be metal or Aluminum.” Source: City of Hialeah, Florida (document center), read 2026-10-28. “Metal Pergola shall be dark bronze in color.” Source: City of Hialeah, Florida (document center), read 2026-10-28. “WOOD FRAMING MEMBERS ARE TO BE OF REDWOOD (#2 OPEN GRAIN OR BETTER), WESTERN CEDAR (#2 OR BETTER), OR PRESSURE-TREATED DOUGLAS FIR (#2 OR BETTER), TYPICAL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED - NON-PRESSURE-TREATED DOUGLAS FIR LARCH (#2 OR BETTER) MAY BE USED AT LOCATIONS NOT SUBJECT TO THE WEATHER” Source: City of Cotati, California, read 2026-10-28.

Types of pergola

The two basic types are a pergola attached to the house and a freestanding one. Goose Creek, South Carolina, names both, and Bloomfield Township, Michigan, sets a 14-foot height for a patio pergola next to the home: “It can be attached or independent of the dwelling.” Source: City of Goose Creek, South Carolina, read 2026-10-28. “When incorporated on a patio and located in a rear or secondary front yard, pergolas adjacent to the residence not exceeding fourteen (14) feet in height, are allowed subject to the required setbacks and screened from view by evergreen plant material for screening twelve (12) months of the year.” Source: Charter Township of Bloomfield, Michigan, read 2026-10-28.

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