The Planning Authority, in accordance with the statutory requirements under the Planning & Development Act 2000, as amended, will seek to secure compliance with planning permissions granted and seek to prevent unauthorised development Any development that requires planning permission or a development which is in breach of the conditions of its planning permission is classed as “unauthorised development”. The term “development” covers a wide range of activities including:
- carrying out any works on, in , over or under any land or buildings
- and making a material (i.e. significant) change of use or structures or land.
If you wish to make a complaint about any development which you consider to be unauthorised, please submit a completed form (available below), along with any relevant images, maps or other information deemed important by email, post, or in person to these offices. Anonymous complaints cannot be considered by the Planning Enforcement Department.
Please Note:
Complaints regarding unauthorised development constitute part of the Council’s records for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as amended. While it is Offaly County Council’s policy to keep the name of the complainant confidential during the course of any enforcement proceedings and afterwards when the case is completed the Council cannot however, give absolute guarantees on this as requests under the Freedom of Information Act can be appealed by requesters to the Information Commissioner. In exceptional circumstances, complainant’s information may be required by a Court.
Civil Matters:
Civil Matters or matters that are addressed under other legislation and, are not valid Planning Enforcement issues and should not be submitted. Examples include:
| Encroachment inc. overhanging trees | Property Ownership |
| Private Rights of Way | Trespass |
| Civil Boundary Disputes | Matters related to Private Drains |
| Structural Damage to private property resulting from construction works | Noise Pollution (unless noise breaches conditions of a planning permission) |
| Other types of private nuisance | Other legal issues |
Defamation Notice
Persons making a planning enforcement complaint should be aware that comments involving allegations of any kind against a named or otherwise identifiable person or organisation may be viewed as defamatory by the subject of the comments. Persons may be sued directly for any defamatory allegations in any complaint and should avoid making such allegations. In the event of any potentially defamatory allegation giving rise to legal action against it, the Planning Authority may seek indemnity from the person making the allegation.
Once a complaint is received you will receive an acknowledgement in writing. Offaly County Council is not permitted to provide updates of the process, as the disclosure of such information may prejudice future potential legal action which may be instigated by Offaly County Council. If an Enforcement Notice is issued, the complainant will be notified in writing.
Forms & Guides
| Enforcement Guidance of Unauthorised Development |
| Enforcement Complaint Form |
| A Guide to Planning Enforcement in Ireland |
Email address: planningenforcement@offalycoco.ie
Postal Address: Planning Enforcement, Planning Department, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly