Free tool · density

How many homes can I build on my site?

Irish planning density is set in dwellings per hectare (dph), measured on the net site. The 2024 Compact Settlements Guidelines give a range for each kind of place. Enter your site and pick where it is.

Your siteSite areaNet developable share (%)Net area leaves out distributor roads, open space serving a wider area, and schools (Guidelines Appendix B). A small infill site is close to 100%; a greenfield estate is often 70–85%.

Where it isSettlement and area typeAccessible location (within 500 m of a high-frequency bus, or 1,000 m of DART, Luas, Metro or high-frequency rail — Table 3.8): ceiling rises to 150 dph

Up to 150 dph is open for consideration at accessible locations.

Homes the density range allows

34–68

About 34–68 homes on 0.85 ha net (40–80 dph, suburban / urban extension).

Gross site	1.000 ha
Net site	0.850 ha
Density range	40–80 dph
Per acre	16.2–32.4
Mid-point	51 homes

Table 3.1, Compact Settlements Guidelines (Jan 2024)secondary source. The development plan, height, separation distances and open space usually limit the number before the top of the range.

The density ranges

Settlement	Area type	Net dph	Table
Dublin and Cork cities	City centre	100–300	Table 3.1secondary source
Dublin and Cork cities	Urban neighbourhood	50–250	Table 3.1secondary source
Dublin and Cork cities	Suburban / urban extension	40–80 (up to 150 if accessible)	Table 3.1secondary source
Limerick, Galway, Waterford (and regional growth centres)	Centre and urban neighbourhood	50–150	Table 3.2secondary source
Limerick, Galway, Waterford (and regional growth centres)	Suburban / urban extension	35–50 (up to 100 if accessible)	Table 3.2secondary source
Key towns and large towns (5,000+)	Centre and urban neighbourhood	40–100	Table 3.4secondary source
Key towns and large towns (5,000+)	Suburban / urban extension	30–50	Table 3.4secondary source
Small and medium towns (1,500–5,000)	Centre and edge	25–40	Table 3.6unverified

Source: Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, published 15 January 2024). Ranges checked 2026-09-24 against secondary sources; check the Guidelines and your development plan before relying on a number. The plan can set its own density for a zone or a site.

What usually limits the number

Height limits in the development plan (often 3–6 storeys in suburbs).
16 m between opposing first-floor windows (SPPR 1), and private open space of 20–50 m² per house (SPPR 2).
Public open space of 10–15% of the net site (Policy and Objective 5.1).
Car parking maxima of 1, 1.5 or 2 spaces per home depending on accessibility (SPPR 3).

Next: what the land is worth at that number of homes (residual land value calculator) and the levies on it (development contributions calculator).