About Bonds and Taking in Charge
Find out about security bonds and taking in charge rules for developers and homeowners, including rates and procedures.
Security Bonds
A security bond is a financial guarantee that a developer must give to the council when building a project.
Planning permission is sometimes granted with conditions that certain services or infrastructure must be completed or reinstated by the developer. This can include roads, open spaces, car parking spaces, public lighting, sewers and drains.
Security Bond Rates
Residential developments: €1,000 per unit
Commercial developments: €100 per square meter
Hotel/student accommodation developments:
- €200 per bedroom/bedspace for first 100 units
- 101-500 units €100 per bedroom/bedspace
- thereafter €50 per bedroom/bedspace
How Can Security Bonds Be Paid?
Security bonds can be paid by cash lodgement, cheque or bank draft, EFT or other security (e.g. a bank or insurance company bond).
How Are Security Bonds Repaid?
When a development has been completed, the developers need to provide written confirmation and an architect's certificate of completion to the council. The development will be inspected by the Dublin City Council service divisions (Public Lighting, Drainage Services, Roads & Traffic, Parks & Landscapes Services). If the conditions have been met, the bond will be returned to the developer.
If the conditions have not been met, and the developer fails to solve the problems identified, all or part of the bond may be used by the council to complete the work.
Taking In Charge
Taking in Charge is the process where Dublin City Council formally takes over responsibilities for the public services in a housing estate from the developers.
The council will take responsibility if:
- construction is fully completed
- works meet the required standards
- any defects are fixed
- the security bond is still in place (or about to be released)
The following documents provide more information on the process for developer and home owners, and the standards required for the council to take charge of a development:
Conveyance
Conveyance is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another. Contact us by email if you have questions about conveyance in relation to your development.