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Do I need planning permission for a shed in Ireland?

Usually not. A domestic shed at the back of a house is normally treated as exempted development under Class 2 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as long as every condition in that class is met.

In most cases, you do not need planning permission for a garden shed. Class 2 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) treats small domestic structures to the rear of a house as exempted development, provided every condition in that class is satisfied.

The main conditions are: the shed must be to the rear of the house and not forward of the front wall; the total floor area must be 25 m² or less; it must not be used for human habitation; and the curtilage must still contain at least 25 m² of private open space. Height and boundary-distance limits also apply.

If any condition is not met, or if the property is a protected structure, sits in an architectural conservation area, or is affected by a condition in an earlier planning permission, the exemption does not apply and you will need planning permission.

Checklist before you build

Run through these points against your own site:

  • The shed is to the rear of the house, not forward of the front wall
  • The total floor area is 25 m² or less
  • The shed will not be used for human habitation
  • At least 25 m² of private open space remains in the curtilage
  • Height and boundary-distance limits in Class 2 are respected
  • The property is not a protected structure or in an architectural conservation area
  • No previous planning permission condition removes the exemption

This is a practical checklist, not a substitute for reading the regulations or getting professional advice.

When to double-check with the council

It's worth contacting your local authority if the site is unusual, the structure is large, the property has special planning constraints, an existing permission carries conditions, or you are unsure whether the exemption applies. You can also ask the council for a formal section 5 declaration under the Planning and Development Act 2000 on whether particular works are exempted development.

Sources

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

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