Exemption prompted by cases in suburbs in Dublin, Cork and Westport.Minister for State John Cummins at the Department of Housing is expected to sign the regulations exempting bicycle and bin storage at the front of houses from planning permission, but the exemption would only be for structures up to a maximum of 3.5 square metres and a height of only 1.4 metres.This rules out many standard bicycle sheds and lockers for more than two bicycles that can be accessed individually, as well as structures designed for cargo and adaptive bicycles and trikes. There have been a number of cases across the country which have gained media attention, including the one pictured above in Clontarf, which planners said caused significant visual clutter. It measured 3.84 square metres and was one of the most modest of structures, which was subject to planning enforcement action.In the case of a large shed installed in a driveway in Westport, Co Mayo, for a familys cargo bike, the resident involved said he was told planners cannot do anything about roadworthy trailers. So, he replaced his shed with a trailer, which has a larger visual impact and is less practical. IMAGES: A shed in a driveway in Westport was replaced with a trailer. Images provided by the resident. In another case in Cork, a then An Bord Pleanla planning inspector wrote a 16-page report rejecting the bicycle shed. Freeing up planning officials and providing clear guidance was said to be part of the reason for the exemption. In both the Cork and Westport cases, greening was used as screening to lessen the possible visual impact of the sheds.IMAGE: A bicycle storage unit in Cork, which prompted a 16-page report by the national planning board. Images provided by residents. Sources did not expect that the exemption would extend to sheds as large as the one in the Westport case, but the highly restrictive nature of the regulations rules out the use of more modestly sized products designed to hold cargo bicycles and three or more bicycles with easy access to and the ability to lock each bicycle.IrishCycle.com has seen a draft of the Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 4) Regulations 2026. For bicycle and bin sheds, it outlines a maximum area of 3.5 square metres, and a height of no more than 1.4 metres.The rules also state that the shed must be set back 0.6 metres from the house to allow space for access and maintenance and/or to maintain daylight access through any adjacent window, and the structure must not reduce the proportion of the front garden retained as open space by more than 50%.This website understands that the restricted measurements in the regulations would mean that most of the sheds subject to planning enforcement, reported by this website and others, which led to the exemption being drafted, would not comply with the exemption.It would also not cover a range of projects designed so that more than one bicycle is accessible and lockable without stacking or locking the bikes to each other, in a way that enables daily use by a family or household. As an example, CycleHoop, a well-known UK manufacturer of bicycle lockers, has a standard Bikehangar product with a width of 2578mm and a depth of 2030mm, which equates to 5.2 square meters. Their cargo bike version is 5.8 square meters, and even the Mini Bikehangar, described as a compact version, measures 1838mm x 2030mm with an area of over 3.7 square metres. Other manufacturers also offer similar-sized products.Under the Bikebunker branding, Dublin City Council is rolling out these structures on streets outside houses without rear access, and in many cases without any front garden or yard. The Bikebunkers are mainly in city centre locations, whereas all reported planning cases relating to bicycle sheds at the front of houses were in more suburban areas with driveways or larger gardens.Other similar products, such as the Dutch-produced Fietslocker, would be of a similar area, and also slightly fall foul of the 1.4 metre height limit.Most square wooden or steel products are designed to hold three or more standard bicycles, with access to each bicycle individually, also break the height limit. These generally come in at 3.7 or more square metres. For example, the two sheds pictured below, sold by the Kildare-based company Coola Living, are between 3.7 and 4.1 square metres. These would also exceed the height allowance by more than 60 cm.This website could only find one such bicycle locker or shed of under that size from Sheds Direct Ireland, but this would still exceed the height allowance. IrishCycle.com asked the Department of Housing how it came to the 3.5 square metre measurement, and if most of the sheds in previous cases would not be covered, does that leave the same issue in place. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said: A balanced and proportionate approach was adopted in framing the exemptions.This measure is designed to accommodate around 3-4 average-sized regular bicycles or around 2 average-sized cargo bikes, a department spokesperson said. But IrishCycle.com could not find any bicycle sheds designed for cargo bicycles measuring close to 3.5 square metres. The Department added: Larger structures, such as the one set out in the query [sent by this website], may still be accommodated where planning permission is obtained from the relevant planning authority.Dave Tobin, vice chair of the Irish Cycling Campaign, a group that represents most Irish cycling campaigns, has written to the minister to ask for changes before the regulations are signed into law.He said that a larger 5-6 square metres allowance and a modest increase in the height allowance to 1.6 metres would allow for practical storage for cargo bikes and adapted cycles while remaining modest in scale and to accommodate practical storage designs without materially increasing visual impact.Firstly, the Irish Cycling Campaign would like to welcome this proposal. It is a practical and progressive measure that removes an unnecessary barrier to secure cycle storage at home. Making it easier for households to install secure storage is an important step towards supporting everyday cycling, reducing theft and enabling more people to choose cycling as a realistic alternative to car use, he said.Tobin wrote: The principal concern is the proposed maximum footprint of 3.5 square metres. While this may be adequate for one or two conventional bicycles, it is unlikely to accommodate many of the larger cycles that Government policy is actively seeking to encourage.Many people are unfamiliar with adapted cycles. They are not recreational equipment; they are essential mobility aids that enable children and adults with disabilities to travel independently or with assistance. Adapted cycles are often significantly larger than a standard bicycle and, like cargo bikes, require correspondingly larger storage. If suitable domestic storage cannot be provided under these exempted development provisions, disabled people may continue to face additional planning barriers that other households do not, he said. He said: Similarly, family cargo bikes are becoming an increasingly common substitute for a second car. These bicycles are longer and wider by design because they are intended to carry children, shopping or other loads. Commercially available cargo bike storage units already exceed the proposed 3.5 square metres limit despite having a relatively modest visual impact. The regulations, therefore, risk becoming outdated almost immediately as these bicycles become more common.Tobin added: I strongly welcome these regulations and appreciate the work that has gone into bringing them forward. My only concern is that, without some modest changes at this stage, they may unintentionally exclude the very cycle types that Government policy is encouraging people to adopt.The draft regulations also allow for external wall insulation to a house and any necessary works to facilitate its installation.The regulations include that the thickness of external wall insulation must not exceed 150 millimetres on the front, rear or gable walls of the building and that external wall insulation must not encroach on any public road. The regulations add: The external wall insulation and related works shall not materially affect the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure and that of neighbouring structures.