Landscape the Outside — Driveways, Boundaries, Planting and Wastewater Setbacks
On this page
Driveway €30–€80/m², boundary wall €150–€350/m, planting €40–€80/m² installed. Wastewater setbacks dictate where the treatment system goes first.
When this matters most
House is weathertight, second fix planned, time to bring in the landscaper.
When this doesn't apply
You've already moved in and you only need maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does landscaping cost?
Typical 1-acre site landscaping: €15,000–€45,000. Bigger sites with mature planting: €60,000+.
What are the wastewater setbacks?
EPA Code of Practice (2018): minimum 10 m from a dwelling, 3 m from a boundary, 50 m from a well serving another house, 10 m from a public road, 20–30 m from a watercourse.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway entrance?
Yes, for any new entrance onto a public road. Apply to your local authority (or TII for national roads). 4–8 weeks.
When should landscape works happen?
After the house is weathertight but ideally before internal second fix, so the site team isn't working around landscapers.
Sources
EPA, Code of Practice: Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems 2018 (updated 2021). https://www.epa.ie/
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), National Roads Design Standards. https://www.tii.ie/
Frequently asked questions
How much does landscaping cost?
Typical 1-acre site landscaping: €15,000–€45,000. Bigger sites with mature planting: €60,000+.
What are the wastewater setbacks?
EPA Code of Practice (2018): minimum 10 m from a dwelling, 3 m from a boundary, 50 m from a well serving another house, 10 m from a public road, 20–30 m from a watercourse.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway entrance?
Yes, for any new entrance onto a public road. Apply to your local authority (or TII for national roads). 4–8 weeks.
When should landscape works happen?
After the house is weathertight but ideally before internal second fix, so the site team isn't working around landscapers.
When this matters most
House is weathertight, second fix planned, time to bring in the landscaper.
When this doesn't apply
You've already moved in and you only need maintenance.
Briefs in this stage
8 in-depth answers for this stage of the build. Pick the one that matches your question.
Boundary Wall in Ireland — Cost, Planning, and the Mortgage Valuation Trap
Boundary wall: block €150–€250/m, stone €250–€400/m, rendered block €180–€280/m. Over 1 m needs planning permission.
boundary wall IrelandRead brief →
Driveway Cost in Ireland 2026 — Tarmac, Concrete, Gravel, and the SUDS Rule
Driveway in Ireland 2026: tarmac €40–€60/m², concrete €50–€80, gravel €20–€40. SuDS-compliant for any new build.
driveway cost Ireland 2026Read brief →
EV Charger for a Self-Build in Ireland — Cost, SEAI Grant, and the Wiring to Put In Now
EV charger: €700–€1,500 installed. SEAI grant €300. Run a 32 A cable from the house at build time — €200 saved vs retrofit.
EV charger self build IrelandRead brief →
Garden Room in Ireland — Cost, Planning, and When It Beats an Extension
Garden room: €8,000–€25,000 installed. Under 25 m² is exempt from planning. A home office, gym, or playroom for a fraction of an extension.
garden room self build IrelandRead brief →
Landscaping Cost in Ireland 2026 — Typical 1-Acre Site, What's Included, and How to Budget
Landscaping 1-acre site in Ireland 2026: €15,000–€45,000 basic, €60,000+ with mature planting. 2–6% of build cost.
landscaping cost Ireland 2026Read brief →
Outdoor Kitchen in Ireland — Cost, Cover, and the Practicalities of Cooking Outside Year-Round
Outdoor kitchen: €3,000–€15,000. Brick-built with a roof: €8,000–€20,000. Year-round use needs a cover and a heat source.
outdoor kitchen IrelandRead brief →
Planting in Ireland 2026 — Hedging, Trees, and the Cost per Linear Metre
Hedging: €20–€60/m linear (beech, hornbeam, privet). Trees: €80–€500 each. Planting plan: €2,000–€10,000 for a 1-acre site.
planting cost Ireland 2026Read brief →
Wastewater Setbacks in Ireland — EPA 2018 Distances, the Rules, and How to Plan the Site
EPA 2018 setbacks: 10m from a dwelling, 3m from a boundary, 50m from a well, 10m from a road, 20–30m from a watercourse.
wastewater setbacks IrelandRead brief →
Where to go next
Branch into
Adjacent decisions at the same stage.
Watch out for
Common mistakes, hidden costs, gotchas.
- Boundary Wall in Ireland — Cost, Planning, and the Mortgage Valuation Trap →
- Driveway Cost in Ireland 2026 — Tarmac, Concrete, Gravel, and the SUDS Rule →
- EV Charger for a Self-Build in Ireland — Cost, SEAI Grant, and the Wiring to Put In Now →
- Garden Room in Ireland — Cost, Planning, and When It Beats an Extension →
- Landscaping Cost in Ireland 2026 — Typical 1-Acre Site, What's Included, and How to Budget →
- Outdoor Kitchen in Ireland — Cost, Cover, and the Practicalities of Cooking Outside Year-Round →
- Planting in Ireland 2026 — Hedging, Trees, and the Cost per Linear Metre →