Planning Permission Ireland

Rural housing eligibility

Who can build a house in the Louth countryside?

Louth County Council generally prefers new housing to be located within existing town and village structures to prevent urban sprawl. Exceptional permissions to build a house in the countryside are restricted to cases involving family situations, local rural employment, or the renovation of an existing derelict property.

Who may qualify

  • Family situations(page 68)

    Exceptional cases where a new house is required in the countryside due to family situations.

  • Local rural employment(page 68)

    Exceptional cases where rural housing is approved for individuals with local rural employment.

  • Renovation of derelict property(page 68)

    Exceptional cases where the project involves the renovation of an existing derelict property rather than a completely new build.

Rules by rural area type

The county is split into area types with different rules.

  • Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) / Areas of High Scenic Quality (AHSQ) / Scenic Routes

    Proposed development within these designated scenic areas will be severely restricted to preserve the rural character and protect views.

  • Coastline of Special Scenic Quality (CSSQ)

    The general objective is to resist development of any kind within two hundred metres of the shoreline.

  • Hinterlands of Dundalk and Drogheda, remaining rural areas, and areas of high amenity

    These are distinct areas of development control subject to differing restrictions on housing to ensure development control objectives are achieved.

Conditions attached

  • Limitation on house size (140m2 to 150m2) in designated scenic areas
  • Minimum plot sizes of 0.2 ha
  • Provision for sterilising further land for development adjacent to the road in some areas
  • Maintaining a minimum of 100m frontage to the road
  • A maximum of three houses in a row is permitted to avoid ribbon development, with a minimum distance of 400 metres between rows
  • Minimum garden sizes set between 90m2 and 150m2, with requirements for on-site garage and parking

Who typically does not qualify

  • People seeking urban-generated housing, such as those who work in nearby cities and towns
  • Those looking to build holiday homes, tourist housing, or second homes in scenic rural areas

Auto-generated summary of building sensitively and sustainably in county louth copy — read the official source ↗. Last updated 22 June 2026.

Based on: Building Sensitively and Sustainably in County Louth, Page 66, Building Sensitively and Sustainably in County Louth, Page 68, Building Sensitively and Sustainably in County Louth, Page 69, Building Sensitively and Sustainably in County Louth, Page 70.

For information only — not legal or planning advice. Rural-housing rules are applied case-by-case; always confirm your eligibility with Louth County Council and a qualified professional.