South Dublin County Council covers Tallaght, Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Templeogue and the villages of Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle, rising to the Dublin Mountains in the south. It is one of the most active areas in the country for new homes, with established suburbs alongside large planned growth areas.
Ireland Planning advises homeowners, farmers, landowners, businesses and developers on planning permission in the South Dublin County Council area. Our work is led by Patrick O’Reilly, a chartered planner and a Full Corporate Member of the Irish Planning Institute (MIPI). We review the planning history, the South Dublin County Development Plan and any site constraints before you commit to drawings or a purchase.
Planning permission in South Dublin: local context
Large-scale growth in South Dublin is guided by Strategic Development Zones at Adamstown and Clonburris and by Local Area Plans. Inside an SDZ, applications are assessed against the approved Planning Scheme, which can make the process simpler for compliant proposals and stricter for those that depart from it.
In the established suburbs, most of our South Dublin work involves house extensions, attic conversions, garden rooms, side extensions on corner plots and new houses in side gardens. The council's House Extension Design Guide sets out its expectations on scale, overlooking and the effect on the streetscape.
South of the M50, the Dublin Mountains and the rural areas around Brittas and Bohernabreena are zoned for high amenity and rural uses, where new housing is tightly controlled. Commercial, logistics and data-centre proposals in Citywest, Grange Castle and Ballymount raise separate questions about traffic, energy and the surrounding employment zoning.
Key planning considerations in South Dublin
These are the issues that most often decide applications to South Dublin County Council:
- Adamstown and Clonburris Strategic Development Zone Planning Schemes
- House extensions, side gardens and corner-plot infill
- Dublin Mountains high-amenity and rural zoning
- Employment and enterprise zoning at Citywest, Grange Castle and Ballymount
- Village centres in Lucan, Clondalkin, Saggart and Rathfarnham
- Flood risk along the Dodder, Camac and Griffeen rivers
Towns and areas we cover
We advise on sites throughout the South Dublin County Council area, including:
Tallaght · Lucan · Clondalkin · Rathfarnham · Templeogue · Knocklyon · Firhouse · Ballyboden · Palmerstown · Saggart · Rathcoole · Newcastle · Citywest · Adamstown · Brittas · Kingswood · Jobstown · Ballyroan
Our planning services for South Dublin County Council applications
- Planning feasibility reviews and pre-planning (Section 247) consultation with South Dublin County Council
- House extensions and attic conversions, assessed against the South Dublin County Development Plan
- One-off houses, infill and replacement dwellings
- Change of use for shops, offices, clinics, restaurants and other premises
- Commercial to residential conversions and living over the shop
- Commercial, retail and business planning applications
- Retention planning permission for unauthorised works and enforcement issues
- Planning refusals, conditions and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
- Section 5 declarations on whether works are exempted development
- Third-party observations and objections on planning applications
Planning refusals and appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála
If South Dublin County Council has refused permission or attached conditions that make a project unworkable, the options include an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, a revised application that addresses the reasons for refusal, or a further information strategy. We review the planner’s report, the reasons for refusal and the relevant policies before recommending a route. See our planning refusals and appeals service.
Frequently asked questions about planning permission in South Dublin
Can I build a house in my side garden in South Dublin?
Possibly. South Dublin County Council will consider infill houses where the plot is big enough, the house fits the building line and character of the street, and both properties keep enough private open space and parking. Corner sites are often the strongest candidates.
Is a planning application in Adamstown or Clonburris treated differently?
Yes. Both are Strategic Development Zones, and applications are assessed for consistency with the approved Planning Scheme. Decisions on SDZ applications that comply with the Planning Scheme cannot be appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála, so getting the detail right first time matters.
How long does South Dublin County Council take to decide a planning application?
South Dublin County Council must generally decide a valid planning application within eight weeks of receiving it. If the council requests further information, the decision is usually due within four weeks of that information being received. Invalid applications are returned, so a complete, well-prepared submission saves time.
Can I appeal a decision made by South Dublin County Council?
Yes. Applicants, and third parties who made a valid submission on the application, can generally appeal a decision by South Dublin County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) within four weeks of the decision date. The deadline is strict, so get advice as soon as the decision issues.
Information to include with your enquiry
The more accurately we understand the site and proposed development, the more useful an initial response can be.
- Full property address and Eircode, if available
- Existing use and proposed use or works
- Any planning reference numbers, decisions or drawings
- Relevant timescales and known constraints
Neighbouring planning authorities
We also advise on projects in nearby council areas: Dublin City Council, Kildare County Council, Wicklow County Council, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. See every county and council we cover on our planning permission by county and council page.
Request a planning assessment
Contact Ireland Planning on 01 223 2496 or email info@irelandplanning.ie with the site address and your proposal. We will explain the planning position with South Dublin County Council and the next practical step for your project.
Request a Planning Assessment →
Planning law and local policy can change. Any general information on this page should be checked against the provisions in force and the specific property circumstances before relying on an exemption or commencing works.