How do I search planning applications in Dublin?

Two ways. The national planning applications map (nationalplanningapplications.ie) carries every council's register on one map: search the address, then look at the streets around it. The planning authorities for the towns on this page are Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council; each also runs its own online planning search with the full file, drawings and decision. For a house you are buying, the 300 m around it matters more than the town count.

Which towns in Dublin have the most planning activity?

By applications within 2 km of the town centre in the last three years: Dublin 8 (1,950), Ranelagh (1,928), Rathmines (1,758), Harolds Cross (1,705), Donnybrook (1,591). Counts include extensions, one-off houses and changes of use, not only housing schemes.

Does planning permission nearby change what a house is worth?

A granted permission for a large scheme behind the house can take light, a view or parking, and it means construction traffic for two years. It can also add a school or a shop. Read the description, the decision and the appeal status before you bid. The report lists every application within 300 m of the Eircode with that detail, and checks the house's own planning and building-control file.

Planning applications · Dublin

Planning applications in Dublin: 51,061 in three years

51,061 planning applications were lodged within 2 km of the centres of 73 towns in Dublin in the last three years, 354 of them for ten homes or more (25,499 units). Below: the busiest towns, the largest schemes on file, and what to check around one house before you bid.

51,061

planning applications within 2 km of 73 town centres in the last three years

354

of them for 10 homes or more

25,499

residential units in those large applications

Where the planning office is busiest in Dublin

Applications lodged within 2 km of each town centre since 2023, from the national planning register. A high count means an active town, not necessarily housing estates: extensions, one-off rural houses, shopfronts and retention applications all count.

Dublin 8	1,950 applications, 31 large
Ranelagh	1,928 applications, 12 large
Rathmines	1,758 applications, 14 large
Harolds Cross	1,705 applications, 21 large
Donnybrook	1,591 applications, 3 large
Ballsbridge	1,506 applications, 8 large
Rathgar	1,427 applications, 12 large
Dublin 7	1,372 applications, 24 large
Glenageary	1,326 applications
Dun Laoghaire	1,303 applications
Crumlin	1,228 applications, 18 large
Drumcondra	1,222 applications, 13 large
Terenure	1,205 applications, 14 large
Dundrum	1,128 applications
Blackrock	1,125 applications
Churchtown	1,071 applications
Monkstown	1,066 applications
Stillorgan	1,041 applications
Sandymount	976 applications, 2 large
Cabra	949 applications, 9 large
Artane	932 applications, 4 large
Beaumont	924 applications, 6 large
Glasnevin	909 applications, 7 large
Clontarf	849 applications, 2 large
Dalkey	842 applications
Templeogue	826 applications, 4 large
Drimnagh	823 applications, 13 large
Walkinstown	817 applications, 11 large
Rathfarnham	810 applications, 1 large
Raheny	707 applications, 6 large
Cabinteely	679 applications
Killiney	668 applications
Foxrock	666 applications
Sandyford	661 applications
Santry	633 applications, 5 large
Coolock	630 applications, 6 large
Inchicore	592 applications, 13 large
Castleknock	542 applications, 2 large
Lucan	524 applications, 9 large
Clonsilla	519 applications
Knocklyon	500 applications, 8 large
Leopardstown	484 applications
Malahide	478 applications
Finglas	465 applications, 3 large
Blanchardstown	421 applications
Clonee	419 applications
Clongriffin	388 applications, 2 large
Stepaside	383 applications
Baldoyle	369 applications, 5 large
Adamstown	365 applications, 8 large
Swords	364 applications
Hansfield	330 applications
Ballyfermot	322 applications, 6 large
Tallaght	316 applications, 8 large
Clondalkin	315 applications, 6 large
Tallaght Dublin 24	315 applications, 8 large
Palmerstown	315 applications, 5 large
Malahide Road	287 applications, 4 large
Skerries	267 applications
Kinsealy	266 applications
Sutton	246 applications
Shankill	236 applications
Rush	217 applications
Portmarnock	212 applications
Howth	204 applications
Citywest	182 applications, 5 large
Hollystown	177 applications
Balbriggan	172 applications
Saggart	168 applications, 8 large
Donabate	122 applications
Lusk	118 applications
Rathcoole	118 applications, 3 large
Newcastle	90 applications, 5 large

Largest schemes on file in Dublin

Applications for ten homes or more near the towns above, largest first, with the status recorded on the register when this page was built:

886 units, Adamstown, lodged 2025-09, final grant (South Dublin County Council): This Application is being made in accordance with the Adamstown Planning Scheme 2014 (as amended) and relates to Phase 2 of development within the 'Adamstown Boulevard Development Area' (Development Area 10) of the Adams
660 units, Lucan, lodged 2025-06, decision (South Dublin County Council): Cairn Homes Properties Limited intend to apply for a 7 year planning permission for development at a site of c.15.6 hectares (on two land parcels) known as 'Development Area 9' Kishoge South East, Sub Sectors KSE-S1 and
611 units, Citywest, lodged 2025-12, appeal decided (South Dublin County Council): Kelland Homes Ltd. and Evara Developments Ltd. wish to apply for permission for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) on a site located at Boherboy, Saggart, County Dublin. To the immediate north of the site is the
594 units, Clondalkin, lodged 2023-10, decision (South Dublin County Council): Construction of a mixed-use development comprising 594 apartments, office floorspace, 4 retail units, a creche and urban square in the Clonburris Development Areas CUCS3 & CSWS3 of the Clonburris SDZ Planning Scheme 2019
588 units, Walkinstown, lodged 2025-10, appeal decided (South Dublin County Council): i. The demolition of the former Chadwicks Builders Merchant development comprising 1 no. two storey office building and 9 no. storage/warehouse buildings ranging in height from 3m - 9.9m as follows: Building A (8,764 sq.
565 units, Clondalkin, lodged 2023-11, decision (South Dublin County Council): 7 year Planning Permission for development at site of c. 13.75 hectares (on 2 parcels of land consisting of construction of 565 dwellings (mixture of apartments, duplex apartments and houses) in the Clonburris Developmen
550 units, Ballsbridge, lodged 2024-08, decision notice issued (Dublin City Council): Permission for development to construct a two-phase mixed-use residential and commercial scheme, which will consist of: the construction of a residential scheme arranged in 3 No. blocks (identified as Blocks A, B and C)
502 units, Ballsbridge, lodged 2024-05, decision notice issued (Dublin City Council): Pembroke Beach DAC intends to apply for permission for development for a mixed used development (referred to as Phase 2) on this site of 15.06 hectares including lands known as the Former Irish Glass bottle & Fabrizia Si

A permission that is granted but not yet built is invisible at a viewing. The register shows it. So does the zoning map for the fields around the house, which says what they are allowed to become.

Check one house in Dublin

The area tells you the odds. The report tells you about the house.

Enter the Eircode. The free snapshot shows which of the twenty-nine checks flag up. The full report (€24.99, one house, no account) lists every planning application within 300 m of the house with status, decision and appeal, checks the property's own planning and building-control file, and shows the zoning of the land around it.

Or read the sample report first: a real house, 16 pages.

Other checks for Dublin

Dublin is in the pyrite belt. Houses built roughly 1997 to 2013 with hardcore from the affected quarries may have heave in floors; the Pyrite Resolution Board ran the remediation scheme. The report flags the build years and the scheme for the exact house.

GuidePlanning search before buying a house: the three files that matter

Questions people ask

How do I search planning applications in Dublin?: Two ways. The national planning applications map (nationalplanningapplications.ie) carries every council's register on one map: search the address, then look at the streets around it. The planning authorities for the towns on this page are Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council; each also runs its own online planning search with the full file, drawings and decision. For a house you are buying, the 300 m around it matters more than the town count.
Which towns in Dublin have the most planning activity?: By applications within 2 km of the town centre in the last three years: Dublin 8 (1,950), Ranelagh (1,928), Rathmines (1,758), Harolds Cross (1,705), Donnybrook (1,591). Counts include extensions, one-off houses and changes of use, not only housing schemes.
Does planning permission nearby change what a house is worth?: A granted permission for a large scheme behind the house can take light, a view or parking, and it means construction traffic for two years. It can also add a school or a shop. Read the description, the decision and the appeal status before you bid. The report lists every application within 300 m of the Eircode with that detail, and checks the house's own planning and building-control file.

Sources

National planning applications map

Area figures, compiled from public records. They describe the town or county, not any one house. The paid report checks the exact Eircode.