Licences and Forms

Road Opening Licence

A road opening license is required for excavations on public roads or footpaths within Cork City. Cork City Council applies the T license system detailed in the national "DTTAS Guidelines for Managing Openings in Public Roads". Fees and charges are detailed in Directions for the Management and Control of Roadworks in Cork City. Licenses are applied for through the Maproad Licensing (MRL) software.

The application process for the following required licenses is detailed within  the following sections of Cork City Council Directions for the Management and Control of Roadworks in Cork City:

  • Section 14: Street furniture licenses for tables and chairs outside restaurants, cafes, public houses etc on public roads and footways.
  • Section 15: Use of public spaces and events license
  • Section 16: Skip placement license (City Centre Island only)
  • Section 17: Hoarding or scaffolding license 
  • Section 18: Mobile crane and hoist license

Road Closure Applications

Any works that impact on the movement of traffic or pedestrians will require the approval of Cork City Council and in many cases the approval of An Garda Síochána prior to the work commencing. 

For any works, events, etc that: 

a) Require Traffic Management to be implemented but do not require a road closure , attendance at the weekly Tuesday traffic meeting is essential to discuss the proposed works. A Chapter 8 compliant Traffic Management Plan must be submitted to Cork City Council prior to commencement of the works

b) Require a road closure attendance at the weekly Tuesday Traffic meeting is essential to discuss the proposed works. An application for a road closure must be made a minimum of 4 weeks in advance of the proposed closure. 

Skip Operator's Licence

Skip Operators Licence is required in order to provide Skips for hire and use on public roads within the administrative area of Cork City Council. Please see related link for the online application forms required.   In addition, a Skip Placement Licence is required to place a skip on public roads within the administrative area of Cork City Council.

Placement of Tables & Chairs on the Public Road/Footpath

The placement of furniture on the street, especially pedestrianised streets, fronting restaurants and public houses can enhance the ambience and atmosphere of the streetscape of a modern European City like Cork. It can enable businesses to improve services to their customers, and generate additional revenues. However, responsibilities to road users must not be forgotten. Control is necessary to ensure that unnecessary restriction is not caused, that access for emergency services such as the Fire Brigade and Ambulance is not impeded and that hazards are not posed to pedestrians from any type of obstruction, spillage or overturning. To enable necessary controls to be implemented, Cork City Council has now put in place a licensing system for the placement of tables and chairs on city streets.

Please see related link for the online application form.

Erect, Construct, Place, & Maintain A Hoarding or Scaffolding on a Public Road/Footpath

Where it is proposed to locate a Hoarding/Scaffolding on a public road a Work Method Statement / Traffic
Management Plan, which includes the following, must be submitted:

  • Proposed arrangements to ensure minimum impact on traffic flow.
  • Arrangements for site deliveries, including time of day restrictions, vehicle queuing arrangements etc.
  • Provision for storage of materials etc.


A non refundable Application Fee of €150 must accompany each application.  Please see related link for online application form required.

Application to Place a Mobile Crane/Hoist on a Public Road/Footpath

Please Note: Application for a licence must be submitted online a minimum of 14 days prior to the proposed commencement of works.

Where it is proposed to place a Mobile Crane/Hoist on or near a roadway a Work Method Statement / Traffic Management Plan, which includes the following, must be submitted:

  • Arrangements for site deliveries, including time of day restrictions, vehicle queuing arrangements etc.
  • Proposed arrangements to ensure minimum impact on traffic flow.
  • Provision for storage of materials, machinery, etc

A non-refundable Application Fee of €110 must accompany each application.  Please see related link for online application form. 

  • Refundable Deposit Crane €2,000 (Road) or €3,000 (Enhanced Road Area)
  • Hoist €1,000 ( Footpath )or €2,000 (Road) or €3,000 (Enhanced Road Area)

Requests for Roads and Services Certificate

Application Requesting certificate as to whether the roads and services abutting mentioned property have been taken in charge by Cork City Council.
Please note that such a request requires a fee of €110.00 and an up-to-date ordnance survey/land registry or equivalent style map clearly marking the boundaries/exact location of the property and identifying road names.
A fee of €160.00 is applicable if a map is notavailable.
On Submission of your application and confirmation of the documents supplied you will be invited to pay the relevant application fee.  
Relevant documentation along with property Eircode is required to proceed with the request. Please ensure that the address of the property is located within the city boundary.  
For information purposes, please visit the relevant section of Cork City Council's website to see an up-to-date map of the city.
If you have a query that relates specifically to a Planning Bond please contact the Planning Division at bonds@corkcity.ie
You can make this application online.

Application for a Licence to use a Public Area for an Activity or Event

Cork City Council may permit the use of defined areas if it considers that the activities/ events proposed enhance the social, culture, artistic, business or general ambience of the City and that they do not adversely affect the physical fabric of the street, the pedestrian/traffic using the street or the companies carrying out their permitted businesses in the vicinity of the proposed activity/ event.
Cork City Council has a licensing system in place for use of Public Spaces and will licence each user under the Roads Act 1993.
Any person wishing to use public spaces for any activity/ event must first get permission from Cork City Council.
More more information on how to apply visit the Online Applications page.

For more information on the road opening licence procedure, please read the Road Opening Licence Guide

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