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Seen a building or plot that is derelict, ruinous or long-term vacant? Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, any member of the public can ask their local authority to enter it on the Derelict Sites Register and to require the owner to carry out works. Empty but habitable homes can be reported separately to the council's Vacant Homes Officer (or via vacanthomes.ie). This page explains the difference, how to report, who to contact in each of the 31 local authorities, and gives you a ready-to-use letter template.

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What this is for

Neglected land and empty buildings damage the character of a place, hold back regeneration, and take homes out of use. Irish local authorities have real powers to act — but they often act fastest when a member of the public reports a specific site with good evidence.

There are three distinct things you might be reporting. It helps to know which one you mean, because different laws and different council sections apply:

• Derelict site — land or a building in a ruinous, neglected or unsightly condition. Covered by the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Report to the council's Derelict Sites Section.
• Vacant home — a habitable dwelling that has been empty for a period. Report to the council's Vacant Homes Officer or through vacanthomes.ie.
• Vacant site — under-used residential or regeneration land. Covered by the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (Vacant Sites Register / levy), now largely superseded by the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) administered by Revenue.

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Key powers under the Derelict Sites Act 1990

• Section 3 — defines a derelict site as land that detracts from the amenity, character or appearance of the neighbourhood because of ruinous/dangerous structures, a neglected or unsightly condition, or the presence of litter, rubbish, debris or waste.
• Section 8 — every local authority must keep a Derelict Sites Register, open to public inspection.
• Section 9 & 10 — owners/occupiers have a duty to prevent land becoming derelict, and the authority has a duty to take steps to prevent dereliction in its area.
• Section 11 — the authority can serve notice requiring the owner to carry out specified measures.
• Section 14 — the authority can compulsorily acquire (CPO) a derelict site.
• Section 23 — an annual Derelict Sites Levy (currently 7% of market value) applies to sites on the register in urban areas. </aside>

Step-by-step: how to make your report

1. Decide what you're reporting. Is it a derelict site (ruinous/neglected/unsightly), a vacant home (empty but habitable dwelling), or a vacant site (under-used zoned land)? This decides who you write to. If in doubt, report it as a derelict site and let the council assess it.
2. Identify the right local authority. Use the directory below to find the council covering the property's location.
3. Address it correctly. For dereliction, mark your email "For the attention of the Derelict Sites Section". For an empty home, contact the Vacant Homes Officer or use vacanthomes.ie.
4. Describe the property and its condition. Give the full address (and Eircode if known) and describe the specific signs of dereliction, danger or long-term vacancy you can see.
5. Attach evidence. Include dated photographs. Street View / aerial imagery with capture dates helps show how long the condition has persisted.
6. Make a clear request. Ask them to inspect the site, to enter it on the Derelict Sites Register, and to consider a notice under Section 11 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
7. Keep a record. Save your email, note the date sent, and follow up if you don't get an acknowledgement.

What to include in your report

• [ ] Full address of the property (and Eircode if known)
• [ ] Whether it is a derelict site, a vacant home, or a vacant site