Planning permission in Donegal
Donegal County Council decides planning applications in Donegal. Search every Donegal planning application, see recent decisions and notices, and check what to expect before you apply. This page brings Donegal 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Withdrawn and invalid applications are left out.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 Donegal planning decisions
The latest granted and refused applications decided by Donegal County Council. Wording is trimmed and never includes applicant names.
Donegal 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 | 2,501 | 94% |
| 2022 | 2,023 | 92% |
| 2023 | 1,966 | 95% |
| 2024 | 2,371 | 94% |
| 2025 | 2,422 | 94% |
| 2026 (so far) | 2,020 | 93% |
Donegal planning approval rates by project type
How often each kind of project was granted in Donegal 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 Donegal compares with other councils
Donegal ranked against all 31 planning authorities, using the last 5 years of decisions. Each strip is one council, and the highlighted one is Donegal.
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 Donegal take?
A planning application in Donegal, week by week, using real Donegal decisions.
Lodging your Donegal 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
30 in 100 decided Donegal applications got a request for further information. If yours does, the clock pauses until you reply.
The Donegal planning decision
Half of Donegal decisions without a request for more information come by week 7. With a request for more information, the middle case takes about 18 weeks. 94 in 100 decided applications are granted.
Appealing a Donegal planning decision
You or anyone who commented has four weeks to appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála. 3.0 in 100 decided Donegal applications went to appeal.
Starting work after permission is granted
Permission lasts five years. For permissions granted in Donegal over the last 5 years, 33 in 100 have a commencement notice on record.
Check your Donegal site before you apply
The pre-planning report covers zoning, protected structures, ground conditions and every application near your address, with the decisions.
Donegal County Council planning department contacts
Who to call or write to about a planning application in Donegal, and when they are available.
Free pre-planning meeting
Donegal 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 Donegal
Nature areas, historic buildings and monuments that can limit or shape a project in Donegal. The figures come from national public datasets.
- Nature areas: check
- Historic buildings: surveyed
- Monuments: recorded
- Flood risk: check floodinfo.ie
Sites inside Donegal, including proposed ones. Largest: Cloghernagore Bog and Glenveagh National Park, Derryveagh And Glendowan Mountains.
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.
Donegal County Council policies to know
In Donegal's 'Areas Under Strong Urban Influence' and 'Areas Under Strong Holiday Home Influence', the council considers a one-off rural house if you can show an economic or social need to live there. One example of evidence is that you, or your parents or grandparents, lived in the area near the site for at least 7 years. The rule does not apply if you have already had permission for a house on another site, unless there are exceptional circumstances. New holiday homes are not permitted in these areas.
Source: Chapter 6, Policies RH-P-1 and RH-P-2In 'Structurally Weak Rural Areas', the council considers one-off houses from any applicant for a dwelling, subject to siting and design rules and the rest of the plan. New holiday homes are not permitted.
Source: Chapter 6, Policy RH-P-3New houses, replacements, refurbishments and extensions in the countryside must fit the landscape. A house is unacceptable where it is prominent in the landscape, adds to ribbon development, or fails to blend with the landform, trees or buildings. Large excavation and tree removal are not normally accepted. If permission is granted, the council will attach an occupancy condition, which may need a legal agreement under Section 47. The council publishes a 'Rural Housing Location, Siting and Design Guide'.
Source: Chapter 6, Policy RH-P-9From the County Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030 (as varied). See all the Donegal development plan rules, by topic.
Is your site affected?
These figures cover the whole of Donegal. 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 Donegal planning decisions
Click a dot to see the decision and open the full application.
Map of recent Donegal decisions
Planning applications decided in the last 12 months. Orange is granted, grey is refused.
Towns and areas in Donegal
Places with the most applications in the last 5 years.
Planning a project in Donegal?
Check whether you need permission before you spend anything.
Common questions about Donegal planning
How do I apply for planning permission in Donegal?
You apply to Donegal 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 Donegal?
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 Donegal planning decision take?
Half of decisions without a request for more information come by week 7. 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 Donegal County Council?
Yes. Donegal 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 21 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.