Kildare County Council covers one of the fastest-growing counties in Ireland, with the large commuter towns of Naas, Newbridge, Celbridge, Maynooth and Leixlip, as well as Kildare town, Athy and a wide rural area that includes the Curragh and the Bog of Allen. Pressure for housing and employment close to Dublin shapes most planning decisions in the county.
Ireland Planning advises homeowners, farmers, landowners, businesses and developers on planning permission in the Kildare 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 Kildare County Development Plan and any site constraints before you commit to drawings or a purchase.
Planning permission in Kildare: local context
The rural parts of north and east Kildare are under strong urban influence from Dublin. Kildare County Council applies strict rural housing criteria, and most applicants need to demonstrate a genuine economic or social need to live in the rural area, usually through long-standing family ties or employment.
The Curragh is a unique protected landscape and the centre of Ireland's bloodstock industry, and stud farms and equine development are significant planning considerations in central Kildare. The Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and the River Liffey corridor also carry heritage, amenity and flood-risk policies.
In the towns, Local Area Plans guide growth in Naas, Newbridge, Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock and Athy. Typical applications include extensions, infill houses, town-centre changes of use, commercial and logistics schemes, and data-centre and industrial proposals in north Kildare.
Key planning considerations in Kildare
These are the issues that most often decide applications to Kildare County Council:
- Rural housing local need in areas under strong urban influence
- The Curragh, stud farms and the equine industry
- Local Area Plans for Naas, Newbridge, Maynooth, Celbridge and Athy
- Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Liffey corridors
- Commercial, logistics and data-centre development
- Protected structures in Maynooth, Celbridge and Kildare town
Towns and areas we cover
We advise on sites throughout the Kildare County Council area, including:
Naas · Newbridge · Celbridge · Maynooth · Leixlip · Kildare town · Athy · Clane · Kilcock · Monasterevin · Kilcullen · Sallins · Prosperous · Rathangan · Castledermot · Kill · Johnstown · Straffan
Our planning services for Kildare County Council applications
- Planning feasibility reviews and pre-planning (Section 247) consultation with Kildare County Council
- House extensions, attic conversions and garage conversions, assessed against the Kildare County Development Plan
- One-off rural houses, local need and rural housing policy compliance
- 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 Kildare 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 Kildare
How hard is it to get planning permission for a rural house in Kildare?
It is one of the more demanding counties because of commuter pressure from Dublin. Kildare County Council generally requires proof of a strong local connection or a rural-based occupation. We assess your eligibility against the Development Plan criteria before you invest in a site or design.
Is a Local Area Plan relevant to my Kildare application?
If your site is in a town with a Local Area Plan, such as Naas, Maynooth or Athy, the plan's zoning and objectives sit alongside the County Development Plan and can be decisive. We review both documents.
How long does Kildare County Council take to decide a planning application?
Kildare 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 Kildare County Council?
Yes. Applicants, and third parties who made a valid submission on the application, can generally appeal a decision by Kildare 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: Meath County Council, South Dublin County Council, Wicklow County Council, Carlow County Council, Laois County Council, Offaly 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 Kildare 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.