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Making an appeal

This page will take you through the steps to make a planning appeal.

How do I make an appeal?

You must make your appeal in writing and post or deliver it in person to us. It is not currently possible to make an appeal online. There is a Planning Appeal Form which you can complete. The form can be typed or handwritten. However, you do not have to complete this form to make an appeal and you can either use the form or write to us.
 

How much time do I have to make an appeal?

You must make your appeal within four weeks beginning on the date the planning authority makes its decision. This is a strict time limit. The decision date is the date that the chief executive's order is signed. This document may have been sent to you or will be available from the planning authority's website. We must have your appeal by 5.30pm on the final day to make an appeal.

If you have been granted leave to appeal by the Board, there is a different time limit to make your appeal.

Example
The planning authority makes its decision today, Wednesday 2 March.

You have four weeks to make your appeal before deadline.

Your last date to make an appeal is on or before 5.30pm on Tuesday 29 March (four weeks later).

Our website has a calendar calculator to help you work out the last day for making your appeal. There are different rules about time limits between December 24 and January 1 (inclusive) which can affect the last date.

 

How much does an appeal cost?

There are many fee types. Please see our Fees and Charges Guide to find out the fee for your appeal, or contact us for help. You must make sure that the correct fee is included with the appeal.
 

How can I pay for my appeal?

There are many ways you can pay a fee to An Bord Pleanála.

 

In person at our reception In the post
Cash ✔ Accepted We advise you not to send cash in the post.
Debit and Credit Cards* ✔ Accepted ✖ Not accepted
Cheques ✔ Accepted ✔ Accepted
Bankers Drafts ✔ Accepted ✔ Accepted
Postal Orders ✔ Accepted ✔ Accepted

*Please note we do not accept debit or credit card payments over the telephone.

You can find more details about Fees and Charges and how you can pay for fees on our website.
 

What do I include in my appeal?

You should carefully prepare your grounds of appeal (reasons and arguments) and any documents you wish to include. When you have made your appeal, you cannot make any further submissions unless we specifically ask you for them. Please note that An Bord Pleanála cannot consider non-planning issues. 

To make a complete and valid appeal:

You must put your appeal in writing (either typed or handwritten)
You must clearly state your own name and address. If a planning agent is acting for you, the agent must clearly state their own name and address as well as your name and address.

You must give us enough details to allow us to easily identify the application you wish to appeal. Examples of the details we accept are:
• a copy of the planning authority decision, or
• name of the planning authority and the planning register reference number (for example: Ballytown City Council, 23719/18)

You must provide us with:
• your planning grounds of appeal (reasons and arguments) for wanting the planning authority's decision changed, and
• any items you wish to support your grounds of appeal.
If you are a third party, you must include the written acknowledgement given to you by the planning authority to confirm it received your submission or observation at planning application stage. We can also accept a copy of the acknowledgement.
You must pay the correct fee.
You must make your appeal within 4 weeks from the date that the planning authority has made its decision.

 

Where do I send or deliver my appeal?

You must:

  • post it to: The Secretary, An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902, or
     
  • deliver it in person to a member of An Bord Pleanála staff at our office in Marlborough Street (address above) during office hours - Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 5.30pm. Please note that the security staff in our office cannot accept appeals.

Remember, do not place your appeal in the letterbox of our office and do not email it to us as your appeal will be invalid.

We are closed on weekends, public holidays and other publicised days such as Christmas Day and Good Friday.

 

Can I get a receipt if I deliver my appeal in person?

Yes, if you deliver your appeal in person to our office you can ask for a receipt which says that we have received your appeal. When your appeal is handed to a member of An Bord Pleanála staff, we cannot return it nor can we make a photocopy of your documents with our date stamp.
 

Will I receive a receipt if I send my appeal by post?

Yes, we will send you a receipt in the post.


What is an oral hearing?

An oral hearing is sometimes held to help our inspector gather more information from participants. The Board will generally only hold an oral hearing to help it understand a particularly complex case or if it involves significant national or local issues. The Board has the power to hold an oral hearing with or without a request for one.
 

How do I ask for an oral hearing?

To ask for an oral hearing you need make an oral hearing request. To make a request you must:

  • tick the box that says "Yes, I want to request an oral hearing" on the Planning Appeal Form, or
  • write to us and ask for one.

Please note you will have to pay an additional non-refundable fee of €50. Further information on how to make this request is available or by contacting us.