Planning Permission in Belfast: A Homeowner's Guide

Northern Ireland administers planning under its own legislation, the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, entirely separate from England, Scotland and Wales, with building control through Building Regulations (Northern Ireland). Belfast City Council applies these rules locally. This is general information, not planning advice for your specific property.

What's usually allowed without a full application

• A single-storey rear extension within Northern Ireland's own size limits
• A rear-facing loft dormer within a set roof volume, not visible from the principal road
• Most internal alterations that don't affect structural walls

Where conservation status changes things

Parts of Belfast, including areas around Malone and Stranmillis, carry conservation area status, restricting alterations that would otherwise be permitted elsewhere in the city.

Getting it right

A builder who works regularly in your specific part of Belfast will usually already know whether your street sits inside a conservation area and roughly what the council will accept.