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Planning permission in Kerry

Kerry County Council decides planning applications in Kerry. Search every Kerry planning application, see recent decisions and notices, and check what to expect before you apply. This page brings Kerry County Council planning data together in one place: applications, decisions, approval rates and local rules.

Granted in the last 5 years
4,889 granted582 refused

Withdrawn and invalid applications are left out.

Applications decided
5,471

Decided in the last 5 years. Bars show applications received each year.

Typical decision time
8weeks

Half of decisions come sooner when no extra information is asked for. The legal limit is 8 weeks.

Asked for more info
43%

Of decided applications, the council asked for more before deciding.

Went to appeal
5.9%

Of decided applications, appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Recent Kerry planning decisions

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

Kerry 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.

YearReceivedGranted
20211,50192%
20221,32190%
20231,34090%
20241,34188%
20251,40788%
2026 (so far)99491%

Kerry planning approval rates by project type

How often each kind of project was granted in Kerry 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 Kerry compares with other councils

Kerry ranked against all 31 planning authorities, using the last 5 years of decisions. Each strip is one council, and the highlighted one is Kerry.

Applications grantedhigher is better for applicants
18thof 3189.4% · Ireland 88.9%
Typical decision timefaster is better
23rdof 318 weeks · Ireland 7 weeks
Asked for more informationfewer requests is better
24thof 3143% · Ireland 31%
Went to appealfewer appeals is better
23rdof 315.9% · Ireland 5.4%

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 Kerry take?

A planning application in Kerry, week by week, using real Kerry decisions.

Week 0

Lodging your Kerry planning application

The application goes in with your plans, fee and notices. The site notice goes up and the clock starts.

Weeks 1 to 5

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.

Around week 5

Further information requests

43 in 100 decided Kerry applications got a request for further information. If yours does, the clock pauses until you reply.

Week 8

The Kerry planning decision

Half of Kerry decisions without a request for more information come by week 8. With a request for more information, the middle case takes about 22 weeks. 89 in 100 decided applications are granted.

4 weeks later

Appealing a Kerry planning decision

You or anyone who commented has four weeks to appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála. 5.9 in 100 decided Kerry applications went to appeal.

Within 5 years

Starting work after permission is granted

Permission lasts five years. For permissions granted in Kerry over the last 5 years, 38 in 100 have a commencement notice on record.

Check your Kerry site before you apply

The pre-planning report covers zoning, protected structures, ground conditions and every application near your address, with the decisions.

Get the report, €29

Kerry County Council planning department contacts

Who to call or write to about a planning application in Kerry, and when they are available.

Phone
066 7183582
Call
Email
plan@kerrycoco.ie
Email
Planning office
Planning Department, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 H7VT
Map

Free pre-planning meeting

Kerry 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 Kerry

Nature areas, historic buildings and monuments that can limit or shape a project in Kerry. The figures come from national public datasets.

  • Nature areas: check
  • Historic buildings: surveyed
  • Monuments: recorded
  • Flood risk: check floodinfo.ie
Protected nature areas
34% of Kerry
SAC
31
SPA
14
NHA
9
Proposed NHA
62

Sites inside Kerry, including proposed ones. Largest: Killarney National Park, Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Caragh River Catchment, Stack's to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle.

Historic buildings surveyed
860
Regional
834
National
26

Buildings in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. A survey is not the same as legal protection.

Recorded monuments
12,954
Hut site
2,600
Ringfort - rath
2,021
Enclosure
1,368
Souterrain
819

Sites recorded by the National Monuments Service, from ringforts to old quarries.

What this can mean for your project

Near a nature site

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.

Protected structure or conservation area

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.

Near a recorded monument

Applications close to a recorded monument can be referred to the National Monuments Service, which can add time and conditions.

Flood risk

The council may ask for a flood risk assessment in flood-prone areas. Check the official flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Is your site affected?

These figures cover the whole of Kerry. Whether a restriction applies depends on exactly where your site is. The pre-planning report checks your address.

Check my address, €29

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 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 Kerry planning decisions

Click a dot to see the decision and open the full application.

Map of recent Kerry decisions

Planning applications decided in the last 12 months. Orange is granted, grey is refused.

Towns and areas in Kerry

Places with the most applications in the last 5 years.

Planning a project in Kerry?

Check whether you need permission before you spend anything.

Common questions about Kerry planning

How do I apply for planning permission in Kerry?

You apply to Kerry 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 Kerry?

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 Kerry 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 Kerry County Council?

Yes. Kerry 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 19 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.