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Do I need planning permission for a boundary wall in Ireland?

Usually not below the height limits. Class 9 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 exempts boundary walls and similar structures up to 1.2 metres where they face a public road, or up to 2 metres elsewhere, subject to conditions on materials and location.

Class 9 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) exempts the construction of a wall, or the erection of gates or railings, within or bounding the curtilage of a house, subject to height limits that depend on the wall's location relative to a public road.

Where the wall or fence adjoins a public road, or forms the boundary between the front garden and the road, the exemption generally limits height to 1.2 metres, to preserve sightlines for road users. Where the wall is elsewhere on the site — for example, between rear gardens — a higher limit of up to 2 metres generally applies, again subject to the specific wording of the class.

A wall higher than these limits, one that obstructs road sightlines at a junction or bend regardless of height, or one built on a protected structure's curtilage where it affects the structure's character will not be exempted development and will require planning permission.

Checklist for a boundary wall

Check the following before building:

  • Height does not exceed 1.2 metres where the wall faces or adjoins a public road
  • Height does not exceed 2 metres elsewhere on the boundary
  • The wall does not obstruct sightlines at a junction or bend
  • Materials and finish are consistent with the exemption's conditions
  • The property is not a protected structure where the wall forms part of its character
  • The wall does not encroach onto a neighbour's land or a public road

Measure height from the lower of the two ground levels either side of the wall where the site slopes, since this is usually the more restrictive interpretation applied by planning authorities.

Shared boundaries and neighbour agreement

Where a wall sits exactly on a shared boundary, ownership and cost-sharing is a separate civil law matter from planning permission, and it is good practice to agree the height, position and finish with the adjoining owner before building, even where no permission is legally required.

Sources

Last reviewed 20 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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