Local authorities continue to have responsibility for the monitoring of all building works, including extensions, in relation to compliance with planning law and with building regulations. Under the building regulations, a local authority must be informed by way of a commencement notice prior to the carrying out of works which are not classified as exempted development under the planning system and local authorities may carry out inspections to check compliance in such cases.
Where a development that is not exempted has been carried out without planning permission, or where development does not comply with the conditions of a planning permission, planning authorities have a range of enforcement actions available to them. In addition, it is open to any individual or group to take action in the courts in such circumstances under section 27 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976.