Planning Permission — Galway County Council
Galway County Council is one of 2 planning authorities in Galway. If your site falls inside its boundary, your application, fees, and any appeal all go through Galway County Council — check which authority covers your address before preparing drawings.
Galway County Council planning statistics 2026: 1,300 planning applications received so far in 2026, with 82% of the 750 decided to date granted. Source: Irish planning statistics.
Where to apply and check applications
Frequently asked questions
How long does Galway County Council take to decide a planning application?
Galway County Council must decide within 8 weeks of receiving a valid application. A request for further information extends this: you have 6 months to respond and the council then has 4 more weeks to decide.
How much does a planning application to Galway County Council cost?
Fees are set nationally: €65 for a new house and €34 for a domestic extension or garage, with retention permission costing three times the standard fee. Professional fees for drawings typically add €1,500 to €5,000.
Where do I send a planning application for Galway County Council?
Apply to Galway County Council through the national ePlanning portal (planning.localgov.ie) or directly via the council's own planning portal. A newspaper notice and site notice must be in place before lodging.
The full process — drawings, notices, timelines, appeals — is covered in planning permission in Galway.
Other planning authorities in Galway
Get help with your application
A local architect or planning consultant who deals with Galway County Council regularly can prepare drawings, handle notices, and manage the application for you.
Need help with your application?
Tell us about your project and we'll connect you with an architect or planning consultant in your county. Free, no obligation.
