Planning permission in Cavan
Cavan County Council decides planning applications in Cavan. Search every Cavan planning application, see recent decisions and notices, and check what to expect before you apply. This page brings Cavan County Council planning data together in one place: applications, decisions, approval rates and local rules.
Withdrawn and invalid applications are left out.
Decided in the last 5 years. Bars show applications received each year.
Half of decisions come sooner when no extra information is asked for. The legal limit is 8 weeks.
Of decided applications, the council asked for more before deciding.
Of decided applications, appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Recent Cavan planning decisions
The latest granted and refused applications decided by Cavan County Council. Wording is trimmed and never includes applicant names.
Cavan planning applications per year
Planning applications received each year, with the share that were granted. The coloured part of each bar is the share granted. The outlined bar is the year so far.
| Year | Received | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 763 | 93% |
| 2022 | 513 | 94% |
| 2023 | 666 | 94% |
| 2024 | 718 | 93% |
| 2025 | 826 | 95% |
| 2026 (so far) | 648 | 93% |
Cavan planning approval rates by project type
How often each kind of project was granted in Cavan over the last 5 years, compared with the whole of Ireland.
Projects are grouped automatically from each application's description, so a few fit more than one type. The marker on each bar is the rate for Ireland. Types with fewer than 30 decisions are left out.
How Cavan compares with other councils
Cavan ranked against all 31 planning authorities, using the last 5 years of decisions. Each strip is one council, and the highlighted one is Cavan.
Best on the left, rank 1 first. Councils with fewer than 100 decisions are left out. Some councils publish data in different ways, so small gaps are not meaningful.
How long does planning permission in Cavan take?
A planning application in Cavan, week by week, using real Cavan decisions.
Lodging your Cavan planning application
The application goes in with your plans, fee and notices. The site notice goes up and the clock starts.
Neighbours can comment on your application
Anyone can make a submission in the first five weeks. Most applications draw none, but a strong objection can slow things down.
Further information requests
38 in 100 decided Cavan applications got a request for further information. If yours does, the clock pauses until you reply.
The Cavan planning decision
Half of Cavan decisions without a request for more information come by week 8. With a request for more information, the middle case takes about 20 weeks. 94 in 100 decided applications are granted.
Appealing a Cavan planning decision
You or anyone who commented has four weeks to appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála. 3.1 in 100 decided Cavan applications went to appeal.
Starting work after permission is granted
Permission lasts five years. For permissions granted in Cavan over the last 5 years, 38 in 100 have a commencement notice on record.
Check your Cavan site before you apply
The pre-planning report covers zoning, protected structures, ground conditions and every application near your address, with the decisions.
Cavan County Council planning department contacts
Who to call or write to about a planning application in Cavan, and when they are available.
Free pre-planning meeting
Cavan County Council offers pre-planning consultations under Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act. Meet a planner before you apply, to hear what is likely to be accepted.
Details checked on 29 Oct 2026 from the council's own website. Spotted a change? Tell us.
Local planning restrictions in Cavan
Nature areas, historic buildings and monuments that can limit or shape a project in Cavan. The figures come from national public datasets.
- Nature areas: check
- Historic buildings: surveyed
- Monuments: recorded
- Flood risk: check floodinfo.ie
Sites inside Cavan, including proposed ones. Largest: Cuilcagh - Anierin Uplands, Lough Oughter and Associated Loughs.
Buildings in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. A survey is not the same as legal protection.
Sites recorded by the National Monuments Service, from ringforts to old quarries.
What this can mean for your project
Projects that could affect a Special Area of Conservation or Special Protection Area may need an appropriate assessment. This can apply even if you are outside the site.
If your home is on the Record of Protected Structures, or in an architectural conservation area, many works that are normally exempt need permission. You can ask the council for a declaration under section 57.
Applications close to a recorded monument can be referred to the National Monuments Service, which can add time and conditions.
The council may ask for a flood risk assessment in flood-prone areas. Check the official flood maps on floodinfo.ie.
Cavan County Council policies to know
Cavan sorts the countryside into three types. Around Cavan Town and in the south east (strong urban influence), new rural houses are limited to landowners and their immediate family with a social or economic need to live there. For this purpose the plan defines a landowner as someone with at least 10 hectares, and others are looked at case by case. In stronger rural areas, rural-generated social or economic need is facilitated. In structurally weak areas, the aim is to accept demand for permanent homes, subject to siting, design and environmental checks.
Source: Chapter 12, section 12.13.2.1, objectives SUI 01 to SUI 03, SRA 01, SWA 01Permission for a rural house in Cavan comes with an occupancy condition of at least 7 years. This applies in strong urban influence areas and in stronger rural areas.
Source: Chapter 12, objectives SUI 03, SRA 02 and RH 06The council views extensions positively but they must be subordinate in scale, suit the area, and not harm neighbours. They must not create new overlooking of a neighbour's private area, must not significantly cut daylight or sunlight to neighbours, and side extensions should keep side access to the rear for refuse collection and utilities. Flat roof and contemporary designs are judged on their merits.
Source: Chapter 13, section 13.5.5 Extensions to Dwellings, objective EXD 01From the Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028, including a Local Area Plan for Cavan Town. See all the Cavan development plan rules, by topic.
Is your site affected?
These figures cover the whole of Cavan. Whether a restriction applies depends on exactly where your site is. The pre-planning report checks your address.
Sources: National Parks and Wildlife Service, National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Policy summaries checked 29 Oct 2026. Policy summaries are plain-English guides written from council plans. They may be incomplete or out of date, and where we are not sure we say so. They are not legal advice, so please double-check anything important with the council.
Map of recent Cavan planning decisions
Click a dot to see the decision and open the full application.
Map of recent Cavan decisions
Planning applications decided in the last 12 months. Orange is granted, grey is refused.
Towns and areas in Cavan
Places with the most applications in the last 5 years.
Planning a project in Cavan?
Check whether you need permission before you spend anything.
Common questions about Cavan planning
How do I apply for planning permission in Cavan?
You apply to Cavan County Council. You need the completed form, a site notice, a newspaper notice, your plans and the fee. The council must decide within eight weeks, unless it asks for more information.
Do I need planning permission in Cavan?
Not always. Many small projects are exempt under SI 600/2001, for example some single-storey rear extensions up to 40 square metres, subject to conditions. Our free checker screens your project in a minute.
How long does a Cavan planning decision take?
Half of decisions without a request for more information come by week 8. If the council asks for more information, the clock stops until you reply, so it takes longer.
Can I book a pre-planning meeting with Cavan County Council?
Yes. Cavan County Council offers free pre-planning consultations under Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act. Contact the planning department to book one before you lodge.
Applications received up to 23 Oct 2026. Sources: National Planning Application Database (DHLGH and local authorities), An Coimisiún Pleanála, National Building Control Office. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Sources and methodology.