Planning Services

Galway City Council is the Building Control Authority for the City of Galway. Building Control should not be confused with Planning Control which enforces the Planning Conditions for a Development.

The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018 provides an exemption for a period of time for the change of use and related works of vacant commercial premises for residential purposes.

Framework plans set out guiding principles for development to secure high standards in quality and design and to generally create well connected living environments.

The Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 sets out the policies and objectives for the development of the City over the plan period. The plan has been prepared in accordance with the steps set out in the Planning and Development Acts.

‘Large-scale Residential Development’ or LRD applications are applications made to local authority for the development of 100 or more houses, the development of student accommodation that includes 200 or more bed spaces, both the development of 100 or more houses and of student accommodation, or both the development of student accommodation that includes 200 or more bed spaces and of houses.

The Living City initiative focuses on the regeneration of retail and commercial districts and encouraging people to live in the historic centres of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford.

A Local Area Plan is a legal document and is a public statement that provides more detailed planning policies, than the City Development Plan, for areas in the city that are expected to experience significant development and change.

The Online Planning Enquiry Systems allow you to view Maps and Planning Applications online.

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.

Planning applications received, refused, further information requests and others.

The purpose of pre-planning consultation is to afford applicants the opportunity to seek advice from the Planning Authority on a proposed development. This advice can include indicating the relevant objectives and policies of the Development Plan that have a bearing on the decision of the application.

What is the function of the Planning Department? When do I need Planning Permission?

The Strategy provides a vision of place and design guidance. It outlines a series of project proposals of different scales that will improve Galway’s streets and public spaces over a period of time that will coincide with the ambition of the National Planning Framework to realise Galway’s role as Regional City.

As part of the measures to help address pressures in the private housing rental market, new planning legislative reforms to regulate the short term letting sector are due to come into effect on 1 July 2019.

Any development which requires planning permission and does not have that permission, or which is going ahead in breach of the specific conditions set out in its planning permission, is classed as 'unauthorised development'.

Under the Urban Regeneration & Housing Act 2015 all planning authorities are required to establish and maintain a Vacant Sites Register.

Urban Development SPC