Before applying for Planning Permission, our guide - "Guide to
Making a Planning Application" - should be read and your application
made in accordance with the guidelines.
All our Planning Forms etc. are
available on this page.
- If you are building a house in Ireland, you will need planning permission.
- An extension or making changes to your existing house, may require planning permission.
There are three types of planning permission :
- Full Permission
- Outline Permission
- Permission consequent on Outline Permission
The most common type is Full Permission.
However, if you want to see whether the planning authority agrees in principle to building a house on a particular site or building an extension, you might apply for outline permission. This requires you to produce only the plans and particulars that are necessary to enable the authority to make a decision in relation to the siting, layout or other proposals. If outline permission is obtained, you will then have to submit detailed drawings and receive consequent permission before you start building.
It is an offence to carry out any work that requires planning permission, without planning permission and the offence can carry very heavy fines and imprisonment. However, if a genuine mistake has been made, it is possible to apply for planning permission to retain an unauthorised development. This permission may be refused, in which case, the unauthorised development will have to be demolished.
Generally, the local planning authority will 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. Anyone can see a copy of your application and on payment of 20 euro, can make a written submission/observation on it.