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How much are architect fees for a house in Ireland?

Architects in Ireland usually charge either a percentage of the construction cost or a fixed fee for an agreed scope of work. The figure depends on how much of the process you want covered — feasibility and planning only, or a full service through tender, construction inspection and certification — so fees should always be compared on the same scope.

There is no fixed or regulated fee scale for architects in Ireland. Fees are a matter of agreement, and they reflect the complexity of the project, the level of service and the responsibility being taken on, particularly where the architect is also acting as design certifier or assigned certifier under building control.

The title 'architect' is protected under the Building Control Act 2007, and registered architects are listed on the RIAI register. You can also work with registered building surveyors or architectural technologists, subject to their scope of competence.

What to clarify in a fee proposal

  • The stages covered: feasibility, planning, detailed design, tender, construction, certification
  • Whether statutory certifier roles are included or charged separately
  • The number of site inspections included during construction
  • Whether surveys, engineering and BER assessment are included or excluded
  • Whether the fee is a percentage of construction cost or a fixed sum, and how variations are handled

Sources

Last reviewed 25 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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