You will need planning permission if you are going to build a house. You may need planning permission if you want to build an extension or make other changes to your existing house. Some small extensions and conservatories do not need planning permission. You should always check this with your local authority before you start any building.

You will also need planning permission if you want to significantly change how you use your land or buildings. For example, you will need planning permission to open a crèche on your property and you may need it if you are renting your property for short-term lets. There are some exceptions to this, for example, you do not need planning permission to change certain vacant commercial properties (including pubs) into homes. These exceptions are set out in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2021.

You may also need planning permission for a modular home or building. This depends on a number of factors such as how big it is, where it will be situated and what it will be used for. A modular home is a home that is built off-site and then delivered and finished at the planned location.

Citizens Information 2023

Before applying for planning permission you must give public notice of your proposals. You do this by:

Putting a notice in a local newspaper (your local authority will have a list), and Putting up a site notice that can be clearly seen and read You will find details of information that must be contained in the notices in the planning application form. Your planning application must be received by the local authority within 2 weeks of the notice appearing in the local newspaper and the site notice going up.

Note: The site notice must remain in place for at least 5 weeks from the date of receipt of the planning application. (Note, nine days over Christmas, from 24 December to 1 January, are not taken into account when calculating the 5-week period).

Citizens Information 2023

You apply for planning permission by filling in a planning application form and submitting it together with required documents to your local authority.

Contact your local authority for advice about how to apply, whether your proposals are likely to comply with the development plan, what other documents you will need, what the fee will be and any other requirements. Information, application form and a checklist are available from your local authority.

Citizens Information 2023

Anyone can make a written submission or observation objecting to or supporting your planning application. It costs €20 to make a submission. Generally, the local planning authority must make a decision on a planning application within 8 weeks of receiving the application, but if the local authority needs more information, or the decision is appealed, it may take much longer. The decision will be notified in writing to you and anyone who commented on your application.

If my application is accepted

If the local authority decides to give you planning permission, you will get a notice of intention to grant planning permission. If no one appeals the decision to An Bord Pleanála within 4 weeks of the date of this decision, you will be granted planning permission from the local authority.

If my application is refused

If the local authority refuses your application, it will give you the reasons for this. You have 4 weeks from the date of this decision to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Citizens Information 2023