Ireland

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Ireland

Listed below is detailed summary of the procedures, time and costs to build a warehouse —including obtaining necessary licenses and permits, completing required notifications and inspections and obtaining utility connections. 

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Building a warehouse

  • Estimated Warehouse Value: EUR 946,771
  • City: Dublin

About This Topic

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Apply for planning permission

Plans, drawings, and statement of intended use are required to allow the local authority to assess the appropriateness of proposed development. It is assumed that no environmental permits are required given the nature of proposed development in this case.

Agency: Local Authority
1 day EUR 4,680
2 Receive on-site inspection before planning permission is granted

The performance of an onsite inspection is not a legal requirement and has no statutory basis. A planning official will visit the site to ensure, for example, that the public site notice is in the correct place, but this visit is merely to enable the official to compile a satisfactory report and is not mandated by the Building Regulations.
1 day no charge
3 Obtain Fire Safety Certificate

The fire safety certificate is required before a building may be lawfully occupied. In order to ensure that the design and construction will accord with the safety requirements and application for the fire safety should be made prior to construction. BuildCo should apply for the fire safety certificate before construction or at least 90 days before completion, to prevent delay in occupation of the building.
78 days EUR 3,770
* 4 Obtain planning permission

Relevant planning legislation provides that a planning authority cannot grant permission before the 5 week public participation period has expired but must give its decision before 8 weeks from the date of application unless, prior to the expiry of the 8 week period, it makes a request for further information on the application. If permission has not issued within an eight-week period (and no request has been made for further information), permission is deemed to have been granted by default on the last day of that period.

Agency: Local Authority
55 days no charge
5 Request and receive final inspection


1 day no charge
* 6 Obtain a Disability Access Certificate

Since January 2010, all buildings have to obtain a disability access certificate. The cost is EUR 800 and the time estimate 60 days.

Agency: Local Authority
60 days EUR 800
* 7 Request water connection

BuildCo completes and send by mail the Dublin City Council’s water supply application form along with a water conservation plan

Agency: Dublin City Council’s water supply
1 day no charge
* 8 Receive inspection for water connection

BuildCo contacts the Water Services Division Plumbing Inspectorate to obtain approval for your proposed internal installations, fittings and materials

Agency: Dublin City Council’s water supply
1 day no charge
* 9 Obtain water connection

After BuildCo receives approval, connection should be schedule with the Water Services Division at least 3 weeks before is required. A deposit equivalent to 1 month's service should be paid. It will be reimbursed within a year.

Agency: Dublin City Council’s water supply
21 days no charge
* 10 Request and obtain telephone connection



Agency: Eircom
16 days EUR 107
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.