Louth County Council planning applications: how to search, apply and track

Louth County Council's ePlan search covers its own files and the old Dundalk Town Council and Drogheda Borough Council files, and its map viewer shows applications alongside protected structures. This guide shows where each thing lives, how pre planning requests work, and what the development plan says about house extensions.

Louth County Council says the commencement of the new application rules under the Planning and Development Act 2024 has been deferred, and new forms apply only once the 2026 regulations commence. Check the council's current form before you lodge.

How to search Louth County Council planning applications

Search ePlan by file reference, address, description or map, or use the council's map viewers.

The council's online planning and maps page links to ePlan for Louth, which covers Louth County Council, Dundalk Town Council and Drogheda Borough Council files, plus an application map viewer and an online map viewer that shows applications, enforcement notices and protected structures. MapAlerter sends weekly email alerts for an area.

Louth weekly planning lists

Weekly PDFs filed by month: received, granted, refused, invalid, further information received, and appeals notified and decided.

The planning lists page has the current year by month and the archive.

Making a planning application to Louth County Council

Online through planning.localgov.ie, after registering on the portal.

• The planning forms page has the application form, the fee sheet, a validation checklist, sample site and newspaper notices, and the approved newspapers list.
• The council's frequently asked questions cover exempted development, including building a front porch.
• A Section 5 declaration on whether work needs permission costs €80, and the council generally decides within four weeks.

Pre planning advice from Louth County Council

Email the 2025 pre planning form and documents to planninggroup@louthcoco.ie, or post them to the Planning Office, Crowe Street, Dundalk.

The pre planning form asks for a site location map outlined in red, a sketch layout, a written and sketch description, site photographs, proof of your legal interest or the owner's consent, and the Eircode. Incomplete requests are returned. The council acknowledges by email within 2 working days, and its advice does not bind it on a later application.

Louth County Development Plan: extensions in Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee

The Louth County Development Plan 2021 to 2027 came into effect on 11 November 2021. Chapter 13 covers house extensions.

The development plan has been varied, and a fourth variation is on public display until 6 November 2026. Chapter 13 says the extension or renovation of houses is generally encouraged and supported, covers porches, sunrooms, dormer windows and raising roof heights, and says extensions shall not result in a significant decrease in daylight or sunlight entering a property.

• Dundalk: the Dundalk Local Area Plan 2025 to 2031 took effect on 17 April 2025.
• Drogheda: a joint local area plan with Meath is at an early stage; zoning is in the county plan maps for now.
• Ardee: zoning is in the county plan maps, with an appraisal of the Ardee architectural conservation area.

Protected structures and conservation areas in Louth

The Record of Protected Structures is Volume 4 of the development plan, and the online map viewer shows each entry.

See the Record of Protected Structures and the council's conservation page (conservation@louthcoco.ie), which has the Section 57 declaration form for owners of protected structures.

Making a submission and contacting Louth planning

Submissions cost €20, within 5 weeks of the application being registered.

• Include your name, address and the application reference. See the council's submissions page.
• County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, A91 KFW6. Phone 042 93 35457. Customer service counters 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
• Email: planning@louthcoco.ie, and planninggroup@louthcoco.ie for pre planning
• Building Control: the council's commencement notice page still shows the old 40 square metre threshold for certification. Since 27 July 2026 the law says 45 square metres.

Louth County Council reminds anyone using applicants' details from planning files or decision lists for direct marketing that they must be able to do so lawfully. We never collect or use them.

Kitchen, window and wardrobe fit out for extensions in Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee

Once the extension is built, we design, supply and fit the kitchen, windows, wardrobes and fitted furniture, made to measure and fitted by our own team. We cover Drogheda and the commuter belt in Louth; further north, we confirm each job when the drawings come in.

Photos of our own work are kitchens Stephen's team fitted in Dublin, and every caption says so; anything else is labelled a design visual; we will not describe them as Louth jobs. Rated 5.0 on Google, 7 reviews. If your drawings are ready, the free plan check gets the fit out priced from them by our team.

For the rules that apply everywhere, see when an extension needs planning permission, the planning process step by step and what an extension costs.

Louth planning questions

How long does Louth take to decide a planning application?

The law gives every council, Louth County Council included, 8 weeks from receiving a valid application to decide, unless it asks for further information. Add 4 weeks after the decision for the appeal period before permission is granted.

How do I see a neighbour's planning application in Louth?

Search ePlan for Louth by address or on the map, use the online map viewer, or check the weekly received list. You have 5 weeks from the day the application is registered to make a submission, for €20.

Can I get pre planning advice from Louth County Council?

Yes. Email the pre planning form with a map, sketch layout, photographs and proof of your interest to planninggroup@louthcoco.ie. The council acknowledges within 2 working days.

How much does a planning application cost in Louth?

The fee for a house extension is €34, set nationally, so it is the same in every county. A submission on someone else's application is €20, and an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála is €220. The drawings and professional time cost far more than the fees.

Do you fit kitchens, windows and wardrobes in Louth?

Yes, in Drogheda and across the commuter belt in Louth; for further north, Stephen confirms each job. Send the drawings for a free plan check and you get a free 3D design and itemised quote for the kitchen, windows, wardrobes and anything else you tick.