The majority of people work within the planning system and seek the necessary planning consents before commencing development. However, the Department does receive many complaints about development taking place without planning consent or contrary to a condition of a planning consent. These complaints will be investigated and, where appropriate, enforcement action initiated to resolve the problem.

The main objectives of the enforcement process are:

• To remedy undesirable effects of unauthorised development
• To bring unauthorised activity under control to ensure that the credibility of the planning system is not undermined.

Such unauthorised work can take many forms, here are just a few:

• Illegal advertisements
• Extensions/conservatories/garages/fences/gates
• Untidy private land
• Other development carried out without planning permission.

A full service guide is available with information on how you can report unauthorised developments, or you can use the online enquiry form.