Open dataset · Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0)

Northern Ireland planning application fees and processing times, 2026

Compiled by the NI Trades research team · Last reviewed 4 July 2026

Statutory Northern Ireland planning application fees in force from 1 April 2025, with a Republic of Ireland comparison and the real average processing times across the 11 councils from DfI statistics.

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ItemValueBasis
Householder application (extension, improvement or alteration of an existing house)£347 per dwellingStatutory fee from 1 April 2025
Certificate of lawful use or development£307Statutory fee from 1 April 2025
Outline application, single dwelling£515Statutory fee from 1 April 2025
Full application, single new house£1,035Statutory fee from 1 April 2025
Equivalent householder application, Republic of Ireland€34ROI comparison (Citizens Information)
Statutory processing target, local applications15 weeksPlanning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 regime
Actual average processing time, 2024/25 into 2025/26Roughly 19 to 20 weeksDfI NI Planning Statistics; only three councils inside the target
Validity of planning permission once granted5 yearsPlanning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Methodology

NI fees are the statutory figures set by the Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, substituting Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Planning (Fees) Regulations (NI) 2015, in force from 1 April 2025 and applying identically in every NI council. Processing times are from the Department for Infrastructure Northern Ireland Planning Statistics bulletins. The Republic of Ireland comparison is from Citizens Information. NI planning fees usually rise each April.

The full citation trail, context and related benchmarks are on the researched guide this dataset is drawn from: Planning permission in Northern Ireland: a homeowner's guide.

Sources

Reuse and attribution

This dataset is free to reuse, quote and republish under CC BY 4.0. Attribute as “NI Trades, NI planning fees and processing times 2026” with a link to this page. Spotted an error or have better data? Email hello@nitrades.co.uk and we correct fast, with credit.

About this dataset. NI Trades is a tradesperson directory, not a government body or an advice service, and nothing on this page is financial, legal or benefits advice. Figures reflect our team’s reading of the cited sources at the review date shown; fees, rates and scheme statuses change, sometimes at short notice. Do your own research and confirm the current position with the official sources above before relying on any figure.