Do I Need Planning Permission For…?
The rules, thresholds and conditions for the most common home projects in Ireland, each with the exact class of the Planning and Development Regulations that applies. Updated for the July 2026 changes, which raised extensions to 45 sq m and garden structures to 30 sq m.
Choose your project
The headline limits at a glance
Every limit below carries conditions. Follow the link for the full rules for your project:
| Project | Headline limit |
|---|---|
| Garden Shed | 30 sq m (max total area (all structures)) |
| Garage | 30 sq m (max total area (all structures)) |
| Garden Room | 30 sq m (max total area (all structures)) |
| Log Cabin | Exempt to 30 sq m (as a garden room) |
| Solar Panels | No limit (house rooftop) |
| Attic Conversion | Generally exempt (roof-light conversion) |
| Fence or Wall | 1.2m (front boundary max) |
| Driveway | Exempt (paving within the garden) |
| Porch | 2 sq m (max floor area) |
| Home Office | No permission (remote work / freelancing) |
| Airbnb / Short-Term Let | No permission (room in your own home) |
Frequently asked questions
Which home projects need planning permission in Ireland?
Most do, but the common exemptions cover a lot of domestic work: a rear extension up to 45 square metres, garden structures such as a shed, garage or home office up to 30 square metres, rooftop solar with no area limit, boundary walls up to 1.2 metres at the front and 2 metres at the side or rear, a porch up to 2 square metres, driveways, and internal alterations. Each has conditions, and none apply to a protected structure or in an Architectural Conservation Area.
Do the exemptions apply to every house?
No. No exemption applies to a protected structure or to a property inside an Architectural Conservation Area, and most are cumulative: the 45 square metre extension allowance and the 30 square metre garden structure allowance both count everything previously built, including by a previous owner.
Not listed?
Run your project through the free exemption checker for a plain-English answer with the regulation cited, or read the full exempted development guide.
