Building a house by county

Local planning facts for building a one-off house in the counties where most are built: the rural housing rules, the council charge and the site checks. Each page cites the council’s own documents and the date we last checked them.

• Cork

  County Cork's rural housing categories, the seven-year occupancy condition, the council's development charge and the site rules, with sources.

  1,961 single houses completed in 2023 to 2025 · Cork County Council

• Galway

  County Galway's five rural housing zones, the eight-kilometre and seven-year tests, the seven-year enurement condition and the council's development charge.

  1,560 single houses completed in 2023 to 2025 · Galway County Council

• Donegal

  County Donegal's rural housing policy areas, the seven-year residence evidence, the 2026 flat development charge and the council's siting guide.

  1,244 single houses completed in 2023 to 2025 · Donegal County Council

• Wexford

  County Wexford's rural housing table, the ten-year occupancy agreement, the ribbon development limit and the €25 per square metre council charge from 2026.

  979 single houses completed in 2023 to 2025 · Wexford County Council

• Meath

  County Meath's three rural area types, who counts as part of the rural community, the seven-year occupancy condition, rural nodes and the banded council charge.

  895 single houses completed in 2023 to 2025 · Meath County Council

These five counties had the most single-house completions in 2023 to 2025 (CSO table NDQ06). Other counties follow the same national guides: start with rural housing and local need and ask your council for its plan.