Poolhouse & Covered Structures by the Pool: Permits & Costs

Both provide shelter by the pool, but they are functionally different structures:

• Covered structure (overkapping): a roof with little or no walls — a pergola with a fixed or louvred roof over the terrace or sun deck. Mainly aimed at shade and rain shelter.
• Poolhouse: a fully enclosed outbuilding, usually with a technical room for pump and filtration, storage for pool furniture, and often a changing area or bathroom. Some owners add a kitchenette or living space for a complete outdoor room.

Under Dutch planning law, both count as an "outbuilding" and fall under the same permit rules — unlike the pool itself, which as a non-building structure usually sits outside those rules.

A covered structure or poolhouse in the back garden is permit-free under conditions, similar to the rules for a garden house:

• Location: the structure must stand in the back garden area, behind the imaginary line of the front facade.
• Floor area: together with any other outbuildings, no more than 50% of the back garden area may typically be built on, up to an absolute maximum that scales with plot size.
• Height: at least 1 metre from the boundary, a build height up to 5 metres is often allowed; closer to the boundary a lower maximum applies (typically 3 metres).
• Beyond these limits — for example a large, habitable poolhouse with its own facilities, or a position closer to the street — a permit is required.

Exact limits vary by municipality and zoning plan. We check this for your specific address via the Dutch permit portal (Omgevingsloket) before the design is finalised — the same approach as in our swimming pool guide and tree felling permits.

Type	Guide price 2026
Simple covered structure / pergola with fixed roof	€3,000 – €10,000
Premium covered structure (louvred roof, lighting, heating)	€10,000 – €25,000
Basic poolhouse (storage + technical room)	€15,000 – €35,000
Premium poolhouse (bathroom, kitchenette, living space)	€35,000 – €80,000+

The biggest cost differences come from insulation, connections (water, electricity, drainage for a bathroom) and finish level. A poolhouse meant for year-round use — not just summer storage — needs insulation and heating, which raises the investment considerably.

• Wind direction: position the covered structure to shelter against the prevailing southwest wind, without shading the pool during the main sun hours.
• Sightline: a poolhouse works best when its style and materials match the main house, rather than reading as a separate, mismatched element.
• Technology hidden but accessible: plan the pump and filtration room so maintenance is easy without the equipment being visible or audible from the terrace.
• Services planned early: run electrical, water and drainage conduits during the pool build itself — adding them later is considerably more expensive and disruptive.

We include the covered structure or poolhouse by default in the design and planning of a complete villa garden and pool project — see our villa gardens service for a free, no-obligation design consultation. Want to see materials in person first? Visit the showroom of our design partner Sense Garden Experience in Amsterdam — we then carry out the build in your garden.