Exempted Development

Exempted development is development for which planning permission is not required. Categories of exempted development are set out in planning law.  Relevant exemptions in relation to domestic developments are outlined in the leaflets:

There are usually certain thresholds relating to, for example, size or height.  Where these thresholds are exceeded, the exemptions no longer apply.  The purpose of exemption is to avoid controls on developments of a minor nature, such as small extensions to houses.

If you are unsure if your development requires planning permission, you can submit an Application for Declaration of Exempted Development under Section 5 of the Planning & Development Act 2000.
       
You can also submit an online application for an Exempted Development.
 

New Class of Exempted Development - Class 20F

The Planning and Development (Amendment)(No. 4) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 605/2022) amend Part 1 of Schedule 2, entitled 'Exempted Development - General' to insert a new Class 20F exemption.

This new Class permits the change of use of the following structures for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities for international protection applicants:

"school, college, university, training centre, social centre, community centre, non-residential club, art gallery, museum, library, reading room, sports club or stadium, gymnasium, hotel, convention centre, conference centre, shop, office, Defence Forces barracks, light industrial building, airport operational building, wholesale warehouse or repository, local authority administrative office, play centre, medical and other health and social care accommodation, event and exhibition space or any structure or part of structure normally used for public worship or religious instruction."

This provision is a temporary measure and will expire on 31 December 2024; the use of such structures shall cease on the expiry of the regulation.

CLASS 20F

Temporary use by or on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to accommodate or support persons seeking international protection of any structure or part of a structure used as a school, college, university, training centre, social centre, community centre, non-residential club, art gallery, museum, library, reading room, sports club or stadium, gymnasium, hotel, convention centre, conference centre, shop, office, Defence Forces barracks, light industrial building, airport operational building, wholesale warehouse or repository, local authority administrative office, play centre, medical and other health and social care accommodation, event and exhibition space or any structure or part of structure normally used for public worship or religious instruction.

  1. The temporary use shall only be for the purposes of accommodating persons seeking international protection.
  2. The use shall be discontinued not later than 31 December 2024.
  3. The relevant local authority shall be notified of locations where change of use is taking place prior the commencement of that change.
  4. 'International protection', for the purpose of this class, has the meaning given to it in Section 2(1) of the International Protection Act 2015 (No. 66 of 2015).

Notification Requirement

A planning authority must be notified in writing of the details of the development prior to the commencement of the proposed change of use:

Planning Department
Block B
Wexford County Council
Carricklawn
Wexford
Y35 WY93
053 9196101
planning@wexfordcoco.ie