Planning permission for a deck in Ireland.
What the rules say.
Usually not. A deck or patio at the back of a house is normally exempted development, as long as it doesn’t raise or lower the ground by more than 1 metre compared with the ground beside it. The exemption can be lost on a protected structure, in some conservation areas, or where the original planning permission for your house removed it, so check those first.
What the regulations say
Exempted development, meaning work that doesn’t need planning permission, is listed in Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Class 6 covers landscaping works within the curtilage of a house, and a hard surface to the rear of the house for any use incidental to enjoying the home.
The condition is about levels: the ground may not be altered by more than 1 metre above or below the level of the adjoining ground. Fingal County Council’s planning FAQ applies this directly to decking: a deck is exempt provided the ground level isn’t altered by more than 1 metre.
In practice: what usually doesn’t need permission
- A deck at the back of the house, at or close to ground level.
- A deck with a couple of steps down to the lawn, where the top of the deck is well under 1 metre above the ground beside it.
- A porcelain or stone patio at the back of the house, with no big change of level.
- The material makes no difference: composite, hardwood and thermo wood decks are treated the same way.
When the exemption may not apply
Even if a deck fits the 1 metre rule, the exemption doesn’t apply in some situations. The common ones for houses are:
- The house is a protected structure, or the work would affect the character of an architectural conservation area.
- The planning permission for your house (often on newer estates) has a condition that removes exempted development rights.
- The work is in the front garden: changing ground levels at the front is generally not exempt beyond ordinary landscaping.
- The deck is raised more than 1 metre, for example on a sloping site or to meet a raised back door.
Raised decks, privacy and safety
A deck that is close to the 1 metre limit and close to a boundary can look straight into a neighbour’s garden. Even where it is exempt, it is worth thinking about screening and where the steps go.
Planning and safety are separate questions. Where there is a real drop off the edge of a deck, it needs proper guarding regardless of whether it needs permission.
Sheds, garden rooms and patio covers
Sheds, stores and garden rooms fall under different rules (Class 3), and the limits for these, along with a new class for detached garden homes, changed in July 2026. If your project includes one, check the current limits with your council.
A roofed patio cover fixed to the house is less clear-cut than a deck. Depending on the design and size, a council may treat it as an extension. If you are unsure, ask the council before you build.
How to check for certain: a Section 5 declaration
Under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 you can ask your local council to declare whether a specific piece of work is exempted development. You send a form, a site location map, drawings and a short description. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, for example, charges €80 and aims to decide within 4 weeks; fees and forms vary by council.
For most ordinary back-garden decks this isn’t needed, but it is the safe route for protected structures, raised decks on sloping sites, or when selling the house later is a concern.
How we handle it
At the garden visit we measure the levels. If a design gets close to the 1 metre line we tell you, and where possible we design the deck and steps to stay within the exemption. We’re builders, not planning consultants: on a protected structure, or where your house has unusual planning conditions, we’ll suggest you check with the council before any work starts.
Sources
General guidance from a Dublin deck builder, not legal or planning advice. Last checked October 2026.
Questions people ask.
Plain answers.
Do I need planning permission for a composite deck?
The same rules apply as for a timber deck. At the back of a house it is usually exempted development if the ground level isn’t raised or lowered by more than 1 metre, unless the house is a protected structure or its planning permission removed exempted development rights.
Does a patio need planning permission in Ireland?
A hard surface such as a porcelain or stone patio at the back of the house is usually exempted development, with the same 1 metre limit on changing ground levels.
Can I put a deck in my front garden without permission?
Changing ground levels in the front garden is generally not exempt beyond ordinary landscaping. Check with your council before building a deck at the front.
What is a Section 5 declaration?
A written decision from your local council on whether a specific piece of work is exempted development. You apply with a form, map, drawings and a fee.
When you're
ready to build.
Send us a few photos.
We'll take it from there.
Photos of the garden and your Eircode are enough to start. We usually reply the same working day.