How do I apply for planning permission in Ireland?

A planning application in Ireland is made to the local authority (city or county council) in whose area the land is situated. The process is governed by Part III of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the detailed procedural rules in the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended). Before you can lodge an application you must first erect a site notice on the land and publish a newspaper notice, both in a prescribed format, and both must be no more than two weeks old when the application is submitted.

The application itself must include the completed application form, the correct fee, a site location map, detailed drawings (site layout plan, floor plans, elevations, sections), and, depending on the nature of the works, supporting reports such as a site suitability assessment for a septic tank, a flood risk assessment, or an appropriate assessment screening for protected sites. Many people commission an architect, engineer or planning consultant to prepare these documents, though it is possible to prepare and submit a straightforward application yourself.

Once lodged, the council checks the application for validity - confirming the notices were correctly worded and dated, the fee is correct, and all mandatory documents are present. An invalid application is returned and you must start the notice process again, so getting the notices and paperwork right the first time avoids losing weeks of time.