Rural housing eligibility
Who can build a house in the Galway countryside?
In Galway City, new housing in agricultural areas is highly restricted and must be located close to existing farm buildings or have a direct relationship to the family home. Additionally, several designated Low Density Residential (LDR) areas restrict new one-off dwellings strictly to immediate family members of the landowner.
Who may qualify
Immediate family members of the landowner(Pages 19-20 (Figures 11.24, 11.28, 11.29, 11.30, 11.31))
In specific Low Density Residential (LDR) zones (including Roscam, Castlegar Road, Quarry Road, and West of Coolagh Road), residential development is restricted to a limited number of houses (typically 1 to 3) reserved solely for the use of immediate family members of the landowner.
Family members on farm landholdings(Page 44 (Section 11.12.2))
For residential development in Agricultural Areas zoned A, site suitability assessment considers the proposed dwelling's proximity to the family home, and the house must be located close to existing farm dwellings and buildings.
Agricultural housing need(Page 8 (Section 11.2.3))
On specific agricultural lands (such as A-zoned land north of the Menlo village envelope), residential development is limited to one house only for uses as set out in Section 5.9 (Agricultural Lands).
Rules by rural area type
The county is split into area types with different rules.
Agricultural Areas zoned A
New dwellings must be located close to existing farm dwellings and buildings on sites of at least 0.2 hectares, and they must be sited as unobtrusively as possible to protect the rural character.
Conditions attached
- Dwellings in Agricultural Areas zoned A must be on sites of not less than 0.2 hectares (Page 44, Section 11.12.2).
- New houses must be located close to existing farm dwellings and buildings (Page 44, Section 11.12.2).
- Dwellings on high grounds must generally be single storey and set into the landscape so as not to be visually prominent or break skylines (Page 44, Section 11.12.2).
- On-site wastewater treatment systems must comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Code of Practice standards (Page 44, Section 11.12.2).
- In restricted LDR zones, development is strictly limited to 1, 2, or 3 houses depending on the site, exclusively for immediate family members (Pages 19-20).
Who typically does not qualify
- Persons who are not immediate family members of the landowner do not qualify to build in the restricted LDR zones of Roscam, Castlegar Road, Quarry Road, and Coolagh Road (Pages 19-20).
- Dwellings that are not close to the family home, lack safe access, or are visually prominent on high grounds in Agricultural Areas zoned A (Page 44, Section 11.12.2).