Planning legislation

Ireland's planning system was introduced on the 1st October 1964, when the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 came into effect.

The large body of planning legislation in the years since then, reflects the expansion of the statutory development control system to meet the demands arising from economic growth, rising public concern in the area of environmental control, a desire on the part of the public for a statutory and independent planning appeals system and a growing European dimension arising from our membership of the European Union.

The planning code is made up of both primary and secondary legislation i.e. acts and regulations. 

The law governing the planning system is updated regularly and can be accessed on the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Website.