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Planning permission in Galway city and suburbs

Planning permission in Galway city and suburbs is decided by Galway City Council. Search Galway city and suburbs planning applications, see recent decisions and notices, and check how often projects are granted. Here is how planning applications have gone in Galway city and suburbs over the last 5 years.

Granted in Galway city and suburbs

1,260 granted, 200 refused in the last 5 years. That is the same as the Galway City average.

Applications
1,641

Received in the last 5 years

Decided
1,460

Granted or refused

Typical wait
8weeks

Without a request for more information

More info asked
26%

Of decided applications

Recent planning decisions in Galway city and suburbs

The latest granted and refused applications decided by Galway City Council. Wording is trimmed and never includes applicant names.

Granted
Permission for development which consists of: (1) To demolish the existing dwelling house & (2) To construct a new single dwelling house at No.
No. 63. Renmore Road, Renmore, Galway, reference 2660318
23 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: the Material Alteration and Amalgamation of 2no.
Retail Units no. 56/59 & 55, Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Road, reference 2660319
23 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: to construct a 2-storey dwelling house, garden shed/store and all ancillary site works including new...
Manor Drive, Kingston, Galway, reference 2660026
22 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: permission for, extension to and refurbishment of existing dwelling house, to include self contained...
67 Devon Park, Salthill, Galway, reference 2660203
21 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: (A) Construction of a single storey rear extension to the existing house.
20 Gleann Na Mona, Ballymoneen Road, Galway, reference 2660315
21 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: permission for a) The Construction of a Ground Floor Extension;
No. 22 Belmont, Dublin Road, Galway, reference 2660311
20 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: convert attic to living space, and to extend dwelling house to the front
2 Sylvan Heights, Fairlands, Newcastle, reference 2660310
20 Oct 2026
Granted
Permission for development which consists of: retention of existing external temporary tenant signage and the erection of external tenant signage.
Units 3 and 4 Gateway Shopping Park, Western Distributor Road, Galway, reference 2660313
20 Oct 2026

Galway city and suburbs planning applications per year

Applications received each year. The coloured part of each bar is the share granted. The outlined bar is the year so far.

Galway city and suburbs approval rates by project type

How often each kind of project was granted in Galway city and suburbs over the last 5 years. Types with fewer than 15 decisions are left out.

House extension513 decided
91%
Attic conversion69 decided
87%
Garden room or granny flat32 decided
78%
Shed or garage63 decided
94%
New house149 decided
87%
Apartments and housing schemes112 decided
81%
Change of use115 decided
81%

Planning a project in Galway city and suburbs?

The pre-planning report checks zoning, protected structures, nature sites and every application near your address, with the decisions.

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Common questions about Galway city and suburbs planning

Do I need planning permission in Galway city and suburbs?

The rules are national, so the same exemptions apply in Galway city and suburbs as everywhere else. Many small projects, such as some single-storey rear extensions, are exempt under S.I. 600/2001. Galway City Council decides applications here, and a site in a protected area or a protected structure has fewer exemptions.

Who decides planning applications in Galway city and suburbs?

Galway City Council is the planning authority for Galway city and suburbs. It must decide within eight weeks of a valid application, unless it asks for further information.

How many planning applications are granted in Galway city and suburbs?

86 in 100 decided applications in Galway city and suburbs were granted over the last 5 years, from 1,460 decisions.

Source: National Planning Application Database and council planning registers, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data is a guide and may be out of date, so check with the council. Applicant names are never published.