How do I check if a house has planning permission in Ireland?

Every planning application in Ireland is logged on the planning register maintained by the relevant local authority, and most authorities now provide an online search facility covering recent decades of applications. Searching by address, townland, or applicant name will usually return a list of planning reference numbers, decision dates, and whether permission was granted, refused, or is still under consideration.

For a house, it's worth checking not just the original permission for the dwelling but also any subsequent applications for extensions, garages, or other works, since a house can be broadly compliant while a later addition is unauthorised. Reviewing the decision order and attached conditions will show what was actually approved and whether it matches what's on site.

Where records predate the local authority's online system, often for older properties, a written or in-person request to the planning department may be needed to access paper files or microfiche records. A solicitor or planning consultant can also request a planning search report as part of due diligence before a purchase.