Applying for Planning Permission

Apply for Planning Permission

This planning process is set out and regulated under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. To obtain planning permission you must make a planning application to your local planning authority. Your application cannot be accepted until you submit the required information in full. If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you as invalid.

It should be noted that the planning system is open and transparent and everyone (individuals, residents' associations, etc.) has the right to see an application and to make submissions or observations if they think it will affect them or their neighbourhood. Persons may also make submissions or observations on an application even if they are not directly affected but feel strongly about a particular issue and want to express an opinion.

Please note, ALL documentation submitted with planning applications form part of the application and will be available for the public to view in both the hard copy and electronic online version.

You are therefore advised to exercise caution in submitting details or documentation with your planning application that you may not wish to be made publicly available.

Apply for Planning Permission Online

Leitrim County Council’s e-Planning portal can be accessed at 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.

The portal allows you to:

Register and login to your account to make a planning application or to manage an application that has been lodged already
Make a submission or observation on a Planning application
View and Make submissions on Part 8 schemes

Types of Planning Permission

There are four different types of permission. An application may be made for:

Permission
Outline Permission
Permission consequent to the grant of outline permission.
Retention

The most common type of application is for permission, often referred to as full permission.

Can I consult with the Planning Authority in advance?

Yes, this is referred to as a pre-planning consultation and can be requested by phone, in writing or by e-mail. The applicant must submit the following:

Name and address
Contact details
Site address
Site location map: Scale 1:2500 within the proposed site outline
Approximate size of site
Legal interest in site, i.e. owner/ purchaser
Description of the proposed development

Once this information has been submitted, the request will be lodged with the relevant area planner, who will confirm a date for an appointment.

Can I employ an agent to apply for permission on my behalf?

Yes, very few people go through the planning process without availing of the services of an architect or agent. This may take the form of somebody acting as your agent and dealing with the application in its entirety. Alternatively, you may have someone prepare the plans/ drawings for you and you will submit the application yourself

Once an application is Received by the Planning Department, what happens next?

The planning decision process usually takes 8 weeks. The application will go through the following stages:

When the planning application is received, the application will be examined to ensure everything is correct and in order, valid or invalid (if found to be invalid, the application will be returned).
The site notice must be kept up and legible for 5 weeks from the date notice has been erected. The planner will visit the site, possibly on a number of occasions, during this time to check the site notice (if the application is found to be invalid due to site notice, the application will be returned).
Submissions or observations will be accepted up to 5 weeks from the date of receipt of the application.
After this, the planner will begin to assess the application and write his/her report where a recommendation is made.
Application and report then go to the appropriate levels for approval and signing where the decision is made.
The decision letter will be sent by registered post, normally within 8 weeks from the date the application is received.
If permission is granted and if no appeal is made after 4 weeks the Planning Authority will issue a grant of permission.
If Further Information is requested and indeed, possible clarification of Further Information, the applicant has up to 6 months (from the original date the Further Information was requested) to submit the response to both.
Any decision made can be appealed by the applicant or objectors, to An Bord Pleanála within 4 weeks from the decision date.
A person who has an interest in land adjoining land in respect of which a decision to grant permission has been made, may apply to An Bord Pleanála for Leave to Appeal against that decision.

Approved Newspapers

List of Approved Newspapers for Planning Notice Publication.doc (size 55.8 KB)

Design Guides

Design-Guide-for-the-Siting-and-Design-of-Single-Houses-within-Leitrim-Countryside.pdf (size 765.3 KB)

Guidelines_on_Shopfront_Design_Leitrim_County_Council.pdf (size 131.1 KB)

Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment System

EPA Code of Practice 2021

EPA CODE OF PRACTICE 2021 FOR DOMESTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have published a new Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment System 2021 (Population Equivalent ≤10) . This document provides guidance on the site characterization, design, operation and maintenance of domestic waste water treatment systems.

The EPA Code of Practice , explanatory letter and electronic Site Characterisation Form are provided below;

EPA Code of Practice 2021.pdf

2021 Code of Practice Explanatory Letter.pdf

2021 Code of Practice - Electronic Site Characterisation Form.pdf

This Code of Practice (2021) applies to site assessments and associated installations carried out on or after 7th June 2021. The 2009 Code of Practice for Waste Water Treatment and Disposal System Serving Single Houses (i.e. ≤ 10) may be used for site assessments and associated installations commenced before 7th June 2021 or where planning permission has been applied for before that date.