How to Apply for Planning Permission

The first thing to do when looking for planning permission is to give a public notice of your proposals. You can place a notice in your local newspaper and put up a site notice. The notices must state the following (details can be found on the application form):

• The name of the planning authority
• The name of the person applying for permission
• The type of permission being applied for
• The nature and extent of the proposed development
• The location, townland or postal address of the site to which the application relates
• The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee, not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours
• A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of five weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. 

To obtain planning permission, you must then lodge an application with your local authority. You have to get this application in within 2 weeks of the notice being in the newspaper. The site notice must be put up on or before the day you make the application and must stay up for at least 5 weeks after. Application forms and information are available from your city/county council in the office or on their website. These forms come with explanatory notes for you to read before completing the form. You don’t have to consult the planning authority before applying for planning permission, but it is usually helpful to discuss any questions you may have. This will save time later on.

The planning application must include:

• Copies of the newspaper and site notices
• Name and address of the applicant
• The area and location of the land and the legal interest of the applicant
• Any plans, maps, and drawings required and a schedule listing these
• A location map (minimum scale 1:1000)
• Site/layout plans (minimum scale 1:500)
• Other plans and elevations of proposals (minimum scale 1:200)
• A plan showing the position on the land where the site notice has been erected
• The appropriate fee (depends on the type of development proposed and the type of permission sought)
• 6 copies of plans and maps

There may be specific requirements depending on the type of development you want permission for. You must clearly show: 

• Your development proposals, including site layout plans and other scaled plans depending on the nature of the proposed development
• What the development will look like when finished, which can include plans and visuals
• How the proposed development will relate to the site and to the adjoining structures and properties. Drawings and streetscape illustrations are useful in this context

For the location map, it must be of sufficient size and contain details and features which identify the site. The scale should be at least 1:1000 in built-up areas and 1:2500 in other areas. The location map should be marked to identify:

• The land or structure relating to the application, with the site boundary shown in red
• Any other land in the vicinity of the proposed development owned by the applicant or landowner should be outlined in blue. Any wayleaves should be outlined in yellow
• The position of the site notice or notices erected
• The Ordnance Survey sheet number of the map (indicating the north point).

You must complete the planning application form and submit it with the required documents and fee to your local planning authority. The current fee for an application to build a house is €65. You may also be required to contribute to the construction of any road, water supply or sewerage works, which may be necessary. Check that you meet all the requirements before submitting the form. An incomplete application is invalid and will be returned. After receiving the application, the local authority can take up to eight weeks from receiving the application to approve or deny planning. If they need more information or if the decision is appealed, it could take longer. If the response day falls on a weekend, public holiday, or other day the planning authority is closed, the decision will be given on the next working day. Christmas, from 24th December to 1st January is not counted in the 8 weeks. You cannot start building until you have received planning permission.

Remember, if you are unsure about anything throughout the process, do not hesitate to contact your local authority.

Note: A development plan is the overall plan for the area where you are planning to build your home. The local authority draw up this plan and they set out objectives for the use of the area. Before making an application for planning permission, make sure to have a look at the development plan.