Planning permission in Ireland
Do you need it, how do you apply, how long does it take and how likely are you to get it? Plain-English guides, backed by real decisions from every council.
Many small projects are exempt, but a lot depend on the exact site. Anything else needs permission from your local council, which must decide within eight weeks unless it asks for more information.
Planning permission by project
What you can build, when you need to apply and what to watch for.
Many rear extensions to a house do not need planning permission if they stay within strict limits, including a floor area of up to 45 square metres on a house not extended before.
45 m² Rear extension limit, house not extended beforeWork that only affects the inside of an attic usually does not need planning permission.
€34 Council feeConverting a garage, store or shed attached to the rear or side of a house into part of the house can be exempt under Class 1, within strict limits.
45 m² Rear extension limit that appliesA garden room used as part of everyday home life can be exempt up to 30 square metres in total for all garden structures, if it meets set conditions.
30 m² All garden structures, in totalA shed, store or domestic garage in the garden is exempt if it meets Class 3 conditions, including a 30 square metre total for all garden structures and height limits of 3 or 4 metres.
30 m² All garden structures, in totalA new house always needs planning permission, apart from a small detached home in the rear garden of your own house under Class 3A.
€65 Council fee per houseHow planning permission works
The process from first idea to decision and appeal.
You do not need planning permission for development that is exempted development, but only if it meets every condition and limit set out in the Regulations.
45 m² Rear extension limitYou apply to your local council with plans, a site notice, a newspaper notice and the correct fee.
5 weeks Public submissions periodA pre-planning consultation lets you discuss a proposed development with your council before you apply, under Section 247 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
A council must normally decide a valid planning application within 8 weeks of receiving it.
8 weeks Decision timeRetention permission is a planning application for development that has already been built or started without the permission it needed.
€102 Retention fee, works to a houseYou can appeal a council planning decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly An Bord Pleanála, within 4 weeks of the decision.
4 weeks Time to appealPlanning permission by council
Real decisions, approval rates by project and how each council compares.