Planning Application Pack in Ireland — Drawings, Design Statement, and Site Reports
On this page
Drawings, design statement, site characterisation form, newspaper notice, and the €65 fee. Total prep cost: €3,000–€10,000.
A planning application pack for a one-off house in Ireland: drawings (location map, site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections), design statement (explains the siting, the design, and the rural housing local needs case if applicable), site characterisation form (soil, percolation, water), newspaper notice (in a local paper circulating in the area), site notice (a yellow sign on the site for 5 weeks), and the €65 fee. Total prep cost: €3,000–€10,000 depending on architect and site complexity. Site reports (soil, percolation, water) add €1,500–€3,000 if you haven't already done them. The pack goes to the local authority; an 8-week statutory decision window starts on lodgement (12 weeks if an EIS or NIS is involved). Most refusals come back because of siting, design statement weakness, or rural housing local needs. A pre-app meeting prevents most of these.
When this matters most
You're at the design stage and need to know what to prepare for lodgement.
When this doesn't apply
You've already lodged planning or are on site.
Sources
Citizens Information, Planning permission for a house. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/planning-permission/planning-permission/
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a planning application pack in Ireland?
Drawings (location, site, floor plans, elevations, sections), design statement, site characterisation form, newspaper notice, site notice on the site, and the €65 fee. Site reports (soil, perc, water) if not already done.
How much does a planning application pack cost?
€3,000–€10,000 for architect-led drawings and design statement. €1,500–€3,000 for site reports. Plus the €65 lodgement fee.
How long does a planning decision take?
8 weeks (statutory) for a one-off house, 12 weeks if an EIS or NIS is involved. Rural one-off houses usually take the full 8 weeks.
When this matters most
You're at the design stage and need to know what to prepare for lodgement.
When this doesn't apply
You've already lodged planning or are on site.
Where to go next
Next decision
The next step in your build sequence.
- Appeal to An Bord Pleanála — The 4-Week Window, €220 Fee, and 18-Week Decision →
- Common Planning Refusal Reasons in Ireland — The Six That Catch Self-Builders →
- Compliance Submission in Ireland — Discharging Planning Conditions Before You Build →
- Design Statement for Irish Planning — What Planners Look For and What Gets Refused →
- Do I Need Planning Permission in Ireland? The One-Question Test and the Few Exemptions →
- Northern Ireland Planning Permission — A Different Process Under the Planning Act (NI) 2011 →
- Permitted Development in Ireland — Exempt Works Under Schedule 2 of the Planning Regulations →
- Planning Application Fee in Ireland 2026 — €65 for a House, Plus Other Charges You Should Know →
- Pre-Planning Consultation in Ireland — A Free 30 Minutes That Can Save a Refusal →
- Section 5 Declaration in Ireland — €80, 4–8 Weeks, and a Binding Answer on Whether You Need Planning →