To apply for planning permission you must complete a planning application and submit it, together with the required documents and the appropriate fee, to the planning department of the local authority to which your application relates.
An application may be made for any of the following:
- Outline Permission (To see whether the planning authority agrees with your proposal in principle)
- Permission consequent on the grant of Outline Permission (If you obtain outline permission, you must obtain full permission before starting work).
- Permission for development
- Permission for retention of development
Applicants should note that Outline Permission cannot be made for any of the following:
- Retention of development.
- Carrying out of works to a Protected Structure or a proposed Protected Structure.
- Development requiring an integrated Pollution Control Licence, Waste Licence or EIS.
- An extension to extend the life of a planning permission cannot be made on outline permission.
1. Planning Application Process
Galway City Council’s e-Planning portal is now live and accepting planning applications online. The Council has spent some months preparing for the launch of the new system which went live earlier this month.
The new portal www.planning.localgov.ie allows agents, developers and members of the public to lodge their applications and make submissions electronically and will run as an alternative option to the existing paper-based system.
Galway City is one of 19 planning authorities live on the national e-planning portal with the remainder of the Planning Authorities coming on board by the end of Quarter 3, 2023. The portal was successfully pilot tested in Tipperary and Galway County Councils.
The e-Planning system offers improved efficiency in the statutory planning process and delivers on the Government strategy to move more public services online. Benefits of the new system include: Greater availability of information for the public and faster uploading of e- files for viewing and cost and environmental savings for applicants, from reduced use of paper and ink.
Agents are encouraged to register on the e-planning portal where an information video, and user guide are available at the following link https://planning.localgov.ie/what-online-planning.
To submit a hard copy application form:
The Planning Application Form must be completed in full as incomplete details may render the application invalid.
Download Planning Application Form [English]
Download Planning Application Form [Irish]
Applicants should note that a Planning Application must be made within 2 weeks of publication of the newspaper notice relating to the application. The exception to this is where the last day of the 2 weeks is a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or any other day on which the offices of Galway City Council are closed - in which case the application will be deemed as valid, if received on the next working day.
If you have queries on completing your application you should contact the Planning Department on 091-536400 or by email to planning@galwaycity.ie
2. Newspaper Notice Requirements
Notice of intention to make an application must be published in one of the newspapers approved by Galway City Council within the period of 2 weeks before making the application.
List of Approved Newspapers:
- Galway Advertiser
- Galway City Tribune
- Irish Independent
- Irish Times
- Sunday Independent
- Connacht Tribune
3. Site Notice Requirements
A Site Notice should be erected or fixed on the land or structure within the period of 2 weeks before sumbitting the planning application.
Applicants should note that if Galway City Council considers that the erection or fixing of a single site notice is insufficient and/or does not adequately inform the public, the authority may require the applicant to erect further notice(s) and submit such evidence as it may specify to comply with requirements
Download Application Form for Site Notice [English]
Download Application Form for Site Notice [irish]
4. Plans, Drawings and Maps Requirements
A valid planning application should be accompanied by plans, drawings and maps.
DRAWINGS REQUIRED
Where an application consists mainly of development or retention of development, six copies of site/layout plans, floor plans, elevation and sections that describe the development. Ten copies if the works involve a protected structure.
Where application is mainly for change of use (or retention of change of use), a statement of the existing use and of the proposed use together with particulars of the nature and extent of the proposed use. Any development included in a change of use application must also be accompanied by six copies of drawings, as stated above.
All plans etc. must be in metric scale
(position of site notice shown on all 6/10 copies of the Site Location Map, 1:1000)
Location map scale 1:1000. Site shall be outlined in red and lands in ownership in blue, wayleaves to be outlined in yellow
Position of site notice shown on all 6/10 copies of the Site location Map, 1:1000
Site location map should be original O.S. Map, If copy then Licence No shown on each map.
Site and layout plans must be drawn to scale not less that 1:500 (scale must be stated on drawing) and must show site boundary in red and all roads, buildings and other features on or adjoining the site.
Other plans, elevations and sections to scale not less than 1:200 (scale must be stated on drawing) unless different scale agreed with Galway City Council
Site layout plan to show levels or contours.
Elevation drawings to show main features of adjoining buildings front and rear as applicable
Plans showing reconstruction, alteration or extension to a structure shall be so coloured to distinguish between existing and proposed or they may be shown separately. All room dimensions to be shown in new build or dimensions of a typical apartment type where there are a large no of apartments.
Floor plans, elevations and sections to show in figures the dimensions (including overall height) of any proposed structures. Site / layout plans to show distances of structures to boundaries of site.
Any map based on Ordnance Survey map to state O.S. sheet number
North point to be indicated on all maps & (except elevations and sections)
Plans to indicate name and address of person who prepared them.
An application for any work to a protected structure or any property in an Architectural Conservation area must by accompanied by such photographs, plans or other particulars as are necessary to show how the development would affect the character of the structure.
The mapping required for the submission of a planning application can be obtained online from the Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSi) website or from an Osi mapping agent. For further information please refer to the Osi website www.osi.ie