Planning Applications

If you wish to build in Ireland, you must obtain planning permission from your local authority before you start construction. In Ireland, the law requires that you need planning permission for virtually every significant development.

There is a process for obtaining planning permission, so jumping in without good advice behind you can waste a lot of valuable time.

You must not start building before you receive the grant of permission. Sometimes planning permission is subject to conditions, which may require changes to your proposals.

Planning permission normally lasts for five years.

If the local authority refuses your application, they will give you the reasons for this, and you then in turn, have one month to appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanála who are the national Planning Appeal Board.

You have to pay a fee to your local authority with your planning application. The current fee for an application to build a house is €65. Extensions are €34 and commercial applications are calculated by the meter. We will be able to tell you exactly what fee you will need to pay.

Some developments are exempt from planning, such as house extensions that fall within guidelines and some domestic garages. We will be able to advice you about all building exemptions and help you design within this limits.

Most County Councils will seek Further Information two months after a valid application has been lodged. Usually we do not charge for this, unless the client wants to change something against our advice or if the further information requires external consultancy such as archeological reports or structural engineering drawings.

What do most planning applications need:

Site location map (must be a legal map)- Site layout map - Entrance details - Site lines - Drainage details -Landscaping details - Building design - Floor levels - Neighbouring building information - Building materials - Building orientation - Site contours - Building heights - Compliance with building regulations -  Site notice - Newspaper notice - Filled out planning application -  Rural application form (if applicable) - Site suitability tests if applicable - Relevant fee 

Please note that this list is not exhaustive.