Planning and Building

You must give 7 days notice to the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office before starting building work. The notice must say that the building will meet fire safety standards and that you will complete any requirements of the Fire Safety Certificate within a set time.

National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office maintain a public register of building control activities such as Commencement Notices, 7-Day Notices, Certificates of Compliance on Completion, Disability Access Certificates and Fire Safety Certificates.

Laois County Council may assess applications for a relaxation or exemption from building regulations and may grant or refuse an application based on their assessment.

Builders and assigned certifiers must submit a certificate of completion to the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office. This certificate confirms that the building complies with regulations before it is occupied or used.

A Commencement Notice is required to give notice to the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office of the erection of such buildings, or classes of buildings, or the carrying out of such works, or classes of works, as may be specified in the regulations.

Local authorities monitor CE marking for construction products sold or used. The CE mark indicates that a product meets European health, safety and environmental standards.

You must apply to the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office for a certificate if you construct a new building, carry out alterations or change the use of a specified existing building. This confirms that a building complies with disability access requirements before it is occupied or used.

You must apply to Laois Fire Authority for a certificate if you own a non-domestic building or apartment block which was completed without a Fire Safety Certificate to confirm that the building complies with fire safety standards.

You must apply to Laois Fire Authority for a certificate if you build, extend or substantially alter a building (other than dwelling houses and certain agricultural buildings) to confirm that the proposed works comply with fire safety standards.

The National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office maintain the EU Information and Communication System for Market Surveillance to ensure information about construction products is shared with other EU countries.

You must apply to Laois County Council for a licence if you want to erect permanent or temporary advertising signs and structures about your business on public roads.

Organisers of outdoor events with an audience of more than 5,000 may have to apply to Laois County Council for a licence.

You must apply to Laois County Council if you want to erect a sandwich board display sign on a public road or footpath to promote your business.

Street performers such as buskers, artists, dancers or theatrical performers may apply to Laois County Council for a licence.

You must apply for planning permission if you want to build or demolish property, or significantly alter the use of land or property unless the development is exempt.

Development Contributions apply to certain planning permissions, depending on the nature of the development, the reason for the application of Development Contributions is for the provision of public infrastructure and facilities in County Laois.

Builders and developers can apply to a local authority for a refund on development levies where they plan to construct residential units within certain thresholds and in specific locations.

Local authorities prepare development contribution schemes with rates for planning development contributions. You can have an input into the schemes through consultation.

Laois County Council maintain a public register of quarry operators.

Laois County Council set requirements as part of the planning conditions for the naming and numbering of housing estates and must approve final proposals from developers.

Laois County Council must give public notice, under Part 8 of the planning laws, when they propose to build housing, roads, bridges, tunnels, fire stations, libraries or public swimming pools. You can have an input into the proposal through consultation.

Laois County Council may issue certificates of exemption, under Part 5 of the planning laws, to applicants/developers for smaller residential developments which are excluded from social and affordable housing requirements.

You can comment on, make observations on, or object to, current planning applications to Laois County Council.

Laois County Council may require developers to lodge a cash sum, insurance company bond or other security which can be used to carry out works if a development does not meet required standards.

Laois County Council may refund or return unused planning bonds where completed works have been carried out to the required standard.

Laois Planning Authority may issue certificates of exemption for developments that do not need planning permission.

You can apply to Laois Planning Authority to extend the duration of a grant of planning permission if the work is not complete before the grant of planning permission expires.

Laois Planning Authority may hold pre planning meetings or consultations if you want information and advice about the planning process before making an application.

Local authorities may prepare guidelines for the design and building of new houses in housing estates.

Laois County Council may assess proposed wastewater treatment and disposal systems on sites being considered for single houses.

Local authorities may carry out strategic environmental assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of implementing their development plan. You can have an input into these assessments through consultation.

Local authorities may carry out assessments to determine flood risk in an area. You can have an input into the assessments through consultation.

You must apply to Laois County Council for a licence to place furniture such as tables and chairs on the public footpath outside your premises.

Laois County Council issue certificates to residents to confirm that the local authority has taken charge of the roads and services within a housing estate.

Developers or the majority of home owners can request Laois County Council to take charge of the roads and services within a housing estate.

You can make an observation to a Local Authority on the potential trans boundary environmental impact of developments on neighbouring EU states.

Local authorities may manage or complete unfinished private housing estates.

Local authorities may take action against owners of vacant sites that could be suitable for housing development.

Owners of land or property which is entered on a local authority vacant sites register may have to pay a levy.

Local authorities maintain a public register of vacant sites.

Local authorities may accept comments and objections from owners of land or property that is being considered for entry onto the vacant sites register.

The Carlow-Graiguecullen Joint Urban Local Area Plan 2024-2030 was adopted by the Elected Members of Laois County Council at a Council meeting on the 29th July 2024. The Carlow-Graiguecullen Joint Urban Local Area Plan 2024-2030 came into effect on the 9th September 2024 within the functional area of Laois County Council

Update in Progress .. October 15th

The Mountmellick Local Area Plan 2018 - 2024 was adopted by the Elected Members of Laois County Council at a Council meeting on the 10th September 2018. The Mountmellick Local Area Plan 2018 - 2024 came into effect on 8th October 2018.

Portarlington Joint Local Area Plan 2018-2024 came into effect on 8th October 2018 in the administrative area of Laois County Council and on the 15th October 2018 in the administrative area of Offaly County Council.

The Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2018 – 2024 was adopted by the Elected Members on 22nd October 2018. The plan came into effect on 19th of November 2018.

Local authorities may acquire land or property for development through a compulsory purchase process.

Local authorities may sell, lease or exchange lands or property which they no longer need.

Local authorities may lease land or properties to you for grazing, tillage, commercial or residential use.

Laois County Council may take action against owners of places likely to be dangerous to the public such as excavations, quarries, pits, wells, reservoirs and dumps.

Laois County Council may take action against owners of unsafe buildings, walls or structures.

You must notify Laois Planning Authority if you wish to hold or organise a funfair.

You must apply to Laois Planning Authority for a licence to erect hoarding on a public road.

You must apply to Laois Planning Authority for a licence to use mobile equipment such as cranes, cherry pickers or hoists.

Laois Planning Authority may investigate and take action against developers of land or property who do not have the required permission or have not met the terms of their permission.

Laois Planning Authority maintains a public register of planning enforcement actions they carry out.

Laois Planning Authority will issue letters of compliance to planning applicants to confirm compliance with certain conditions of the planning permission granted to them.

You must apply to Laois Planning Authority if you want to erect scaffolding on a public road.

Laois Planning Authority may take action against owners who rent out properties for short term lets and have not registered with the local planning authority or applied for change of use planning permission.

You must register with Laois Planning Authority or apply for a change of use of planning permission if you want to rent your property on a short term basis within a designated rent pressure zone.

Local authorities may take action against owners or occupiers of neglected, unsightly or littered properties.

Owners of land or property which is entered on a local authority derelict sites register may have to pay a levy.

Local authorities maintain a public register of derelict sites.

Laois County Council engage with communities to give people a say in the design of public spaces such as streetscapes and public squares. The public may have an input into the design through consultation.

Laois County Council prepare plans for the development of specific public space projects. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities may prepare strategies to improve streets and public spaces in line with the location, history and character of the place. You can have an input into the strategies through consultation.

Laolis County Council will prepare guidelines for the design and building of new houses in rural areas.

Local authorities will provide financial support to community and business groups for projects to improve local towns and villages.

Local authorities prepare development plans for land use and development management. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities prepare local area plans for land use and development management. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Laois County Council may prepare strategies for retail development. You can have an input into the strategies through consultation.

Local authorities will prepare plans for the preservation or improvement of areas of architectural importance. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities will prepare long terms plans for specific types of strategic development. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities will prepare plans for strategic development zones. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities will prepare plans for urban development. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities may prepare statements on village design.

Local authorities will prepare strategies for wind energy. You can have an input into the plans through consultation.

Local authorities will provide planning reports and information to government departments and other agencies.

Local authorities collects planning data and give it to relevant agencies.

Local authorities will designate areas of outstanding natural beauty or special recreational value as Special Amenity Areas. You can have an input into the designations through consultation.

Local authorities assess relevant planning applications to measure the impact on special areas of conservation (SACs). Habitats and species which must be protected in SACs include bogs, sand dunes, lakes, rivers, woodlands, otters, salmon and bottlenose dolphins.