Do I need planning permission?

Pick your project and answer a few questions. We check them against the exemption rules in the Planning Regulations and tell you what is likely.

What are you planning?

Single-storey extension to the rearClass 1 lets you extend a house to the rear without planning permission, if the extension stays within set size, height, garden and window limits.Two-storey or first-floor extension to the rearClass 1 also covers rear extensions with a first floor, but the part above ground level has tighter limits on size, boundary distance and windows.Attic conversion, with or without a dormer or roof windowsWork that only changes the inside of the attic is exempt under section 4(1)(h), and since 27 July 2026 rear or side dormers and front roof lights have their own classes with set limits.Converting a garage to habitable useClass 1 lets you convert a garage, store or shed attached to the side or rear of a house into part of the house, but the Regulations give no clear rule for other garages.Shed, store, garage or other outbuilding in the gardenClass 3 lets you build or place a shed, store, greenhouse or garage in the garden without planning permission, if it stays within set size, height and use limits.Garden room, home office or granny flatA garden room used for hobbies or leisure falls under Class 3, and since 27 July 2026 a detached home in the rear garden for the household has its own class, Class 3A, with more conditions.Porch to the frontClass 7 lets you build a small porch outside an external door of a house, even at the front, if it is small, low and set back from the road.

Your result

Answer the questions

Your answer appears here as you fill in the form.

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Which rules this uses

Rules checked on 2026-10-29.

These rules reflect the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 as amended, including S.I. Nos. 338 to 344 of 2026, which came into operation on 27 July 2026. They changed Class 1 (45 square metres, 8 metre window distance), Class 3 (30 square metres) and added Classes 1A, 1B, 1C, 3A, 62 and 63.
The Planning and Development Act 2024 has not replaced these rules. On 9 October 2026 the Department notified that commencement of the remaining parts of the 2024 Act is deferred, with no new date, and that the Planning and Development Act 2000 continues to operate (source: Irish Planning Institute, page updated 12 October 2026). The 2026 exempted development regulations are made under section 4(2) of the 2000 Act.
The official Irish Statute Book text of the 2001 Regulations is the 'as made' version. The Department's unofficial consolidation runs to 31 December 2025. The 2026 changes were read directly from each S.I. and there may not yet be a consolidated text that includes them.

How this checker works

It uses the exempted development rules in Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Each answer is compared with the limits for your project. If you pass every limit and none of the exceptions apply, the project is likely to be exempt.

Likely exemptYou meet every limit we check

Likely needs permissionAt least one limit is not met

Check with the councilYour site has special rules

Exempt projects may still need to meet the Building Regulations. The checker is a guide, not legal advice, and rules change as the Planning and Development Act 2024 comes into force.

Common questions about exempted development

Do I need planning permission for a house extension in Ireland?

Not always. A single-storey extension to the rear of a house can be exempt if it stays within the limits set out in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, for example on floor area, height and how much garden is left. This checker screens your project against those limits.

What does "exempted development" mean?

It means building work that does not need planning permission because national law says so, as long as you meet the conditions. Exempted development can still need to comply with the Building Regulations.

How accurate is this checker?

It is a screening tool based on the published Regulations, not legal advice. Your site, your house history and any conditions on earlier permissions can change the answer. If you want certainty, you can ask the council for a declaration under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act.

What if the checker says I need permission?

You can apply to your council, and the free pre-planning meeting is a good first step. Our guides explain the process and the fee calculator shows the cost.

Rules version 2026-10. Source: Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (S.I. 600/2001), as amended. Please double-check anything important with your council.