City guide for Phoenix homeowners

Pergola and patio cover installation in Phoenix, AZ

Louvered pergolas from about $12,000

Installation is done by a licensed Arizona contractor.

Phoenix mixes historic districts, hillside lots and newer subdivisions, and each adds its own approvals. In a historic district, the city’s Historic Preservation Office reviews exterior changes, rear patio covers included, before a permit is issued, and hillside lots need their own plan review.

Arizona ROC-licensed installation
Written quote before any work
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler

Permits and HOA review in Phoenix

Phoenix’s building code exempts one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet from a building permit, and the city’s commentary names ramadas and gazebos as similar uses. Running power to an exempt structure still needs a permit, so a motorized louvered pergola, or one with lights or fans, needs at least an electrical permit. Attached patio covers must be one story, no taller than 12 feet and open on at least two sides, and a simple one built to the code’s standard framing can often be permitted over the counter. Exempt structures must still meet zoning setbacks.

If your home is in an HOA, its architectural review is separate from the city permit, and you may need both before work starts.

Illustration of a small aluminum patio cover on a 1930s bungalow in a historic central Phoenix neighborhood. — Illustration: on a historic Phoenix home, exterior changes such as a patio cover get Historic Preservation review first.

Sources: City of Phoenix, Work Exempt from Permit (PBCC 105.2); City of Phoenix, Residential Patio Covers Guideline; City of Phoenix, Residential Over the Counter Permits Guideline; City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, Approvals and Guidelines. Checked September 2026; rules change, so the installer confirms them for your address. Permit rules across the Valley.

What a pergola, patio cover or ramada costs in Phoenix

Structure	Typical installed range	Guide
Louvered pergolas	$12,000–$34,000 for a 12×12 system, depending on the brand; $32,000–$55,000 for a 14×20 with fans, lights and heaters	Cost guide
Aluminum pergolas	$5,500–$18,000 for a fixed-roof aluminum pergola, 12×16 to 16×20	Cost guide
Patio covers	$8,000–$22,000 for an Alumawood-style aluminum patio cover	Cost guide
Ramadas and shade structures	$18,000–$32,000 for an entry ramada (10×12 to 12×14); $28,000–$55,000 for 14×18 to 16×20	Cost guide

Published Phoenix-metro ranges; size, roof type, electrical work and permits move the price most. Price your exact size with the cost calculator, or compare structures in the buying guide.

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Phoenix: questions homeowners ask

How much does a pergola cost in Phoenix?

Typical installed range: $12,000–$34,000 for a 12×12 system, depending on the brand; $32,000–$55,000 for a 14×20 with fans, lights and heaters. The installer confirms the price in writing after measuring your space.

Do I need Historic Preservation review for a patio cover in Phoenix?

If the home is on the Phoenix Historic Property Register, including homes inside a historic district, yes. The Historic Preservation Office must issue a Certificate of Appropriateness or a Certificate of No Effect before any building permit that changes the exterior, and it reviews rear patio covers.

Can I get a patio cover permit over the counter in Phoenix?

Often, for a simple attached cover built to the building code’s standard framing. Projects in historic, hillside or floodplain areas need those approvals first.

More answers in the pergola and patio cover FAQ, or see how a request works.

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Get a written quote

Leave your name and number. A licensed installer calls you back, visits to measure, and quotes the job in writing before any work starts.

Call (602) 557-3625