How Much Does Planning Permission Cost in Ireland?
The planning application fee in Ireland is €65 for a new house and €34 for a domestic extension, set nationally so every county charges the same. Retention permission costs three times the normal fee. The larger cost is professional fees for drawings and managing the application, typically €1,500 to €5,000 for a domestic project.
Estimate the statutory fee for your own application below, then read on for the costs the application fee does not cover.
Other Common Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Making a submission / observation | €20 |
| Section 5 Declaration | €80 |
| Appeal to An Coimisiun Pleanala | €220 |
| Extension of duration of permission | Varies |
Planning application fees in Ireland 2026
Set nationally by the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, so they are identical in every local authority:
| Application type | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New house | €65 | Per dwelling |
| Extension to a house | €34 | Also garage conversions |
| Apartments | €65 | Per unit |
| Commercial, industrial, agricultural | €3.60 | Per sq m of gross floor area, minimum €65 |
| Change of use | €500 | Flat fee |
| Outline permission | 75% | Three quarters of the full fee (€48.75 for a house) |
| Retention permission | 3× | Three times the normal fee (€195 for a house) |
| Advertising sign | €65 | Per sign |
| Submission or observation | €20 | To object to or comment on an application |
| Appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála | €220 | First or third party. Observation on an appeal is €50 |
| Section 5 Declaration | €80 | A binding ruling on whether you need permission at all |
What the application fee does not cover
The €65 is the smallest part of the bill. A realistic budget for a domestic project also includes:
| Cost | Typical range | When |
|---|---|---|
| Architect, engineer or planning consultant | €1,500–€5,000 | Before you apply. Drawings, maps, and managing the application |
| Newspaper notice | €30–€250 | Within 2 weeks before lodging. Varies a lot by paper, so ring around the approved list |
| Ordnance Survey maps | €40–€100 | Site location map at 1:1000 or 1:2500 |
| Site suitability assessment | €400–€900 | Rural sites on septic tanks. Percolation testing |
| Development contributions | Varies widely | After permission is granted, before work starts. Set by each council's own scheme |
Development contributions are the cost most people are not expecting, and they are set locally rather than nationally. Check your council's current contribution scheme before you commit to a project. You can find your authority's details on its county page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does planning permission cost in Ireland?
The statutory application fee is €65 for a house and €34 for a domestic extension or garage conversion, and it is the same in every county because the fees are set nationally. The much larger cost is professional fees: an architect, engineer or planning consultant to prepare the drawings and manage the application typically costs €1,500 to €5,000 for a domestic project. Budget for the newspaper notice as well, which ranges from about €30 to €250 depending on which paper you use.
Why is retention permission three times the fee?
Retention permission applies where the development was already built without permission, and the Regulations set the fee at three times the normal amount. A house is €195 instead of €65, an extension €102 instead of €34. Retention can also be refused, in which case you can be ordered to undo the work.
Is the planning application fee the same in every county?
Yes. Planning application fees are set nationally by the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, so Dublin City Council charges the same as Leitrim County Council. What varies by county is development contributions, which are set by each authority in its own scheme and are charged after permission is granted, not with the application.
What are development contributions and how much are they?
A separate charge levied by the planning authority as a condition of permission, to fund public infrastructure. Each council sets its own scheme, and for a new house they commonly run from a few thousand euro to over €10,000 depending on the county and the floor area. They are payable before you start work, not when you apply, and are not included in the application fee.
Do I get the fee back if my application is refused?
No. The application fee is not refundable if permission is refused. It is refunded if the application is declared invalid and returned, because it was never validly made. If you appeal a refusal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, that is a separate €220 fee.
Before you spend anything
Check whether you need permission at all: extensions up to 45 sq m, garden structures up to 30 sq m and rooftop solar are usually exempt. Run the free exemption checker first, read the full fees guide, or work through the application checklist.
