Apply for a licence to store explosives and small arms ammunition

Under national explosives legislation, explosives must be stored in one of the following:

• a licenced factory or magazine
• a store (licensed by the local authority)
• a premises registered for keeping explosives

There are several licences you may apply for:

• as a registered premises
• for a store licence
• for a factory or magazine licence

See information below on how to apply for each.

Note: it is sometimes wrongly assumed that being a registered firearms dealer (under the Firearms Acts) automatically means that the premises is also registered for storage under the Explosives Act when, in fact, this is separate legislation. A registered firearms dealer needs to have either a registered premises or a local authority store to keep their stocks of ammunition.

You must renew your registration every year. There are two modes of storage for a registered premises, each with different limits:

• Mode A: a substantial building (constructed of brick, iron, stone or concrete or an excavation in solid rock) or a securely constructed fireproof safe detached from a dwelling at a safe distance from a street or public place. The general explosive limit is 317 Kg (700lbs) NEC of small arms ammunition or 90 Kg (200lbs) NEC of pyrotechnics
• Mode B: a substantial receptacle or safe inside a dwelling house or public room. The general explosive limit is 249 kg (550lbs) NEC of small arms ammunition or 22 Kg (50lbs) NEC of pyrotechnics

Fill out the below forms and return them to your local authority.

When applying for a store licence, the form should be read in conjunction with the Explosives Act 1875 and Stores for Explosives Order 2007 (S.I. 804 of 2007), and Guidance Document on Fire Safety in Stores for Explosives.

Find your local authority.

Fill in the form below and return it to your local authority.

If you have any queries, please contact the Explosives Unit of the Department of Justice at:

• phone: 01 4768625
• email: explosives@justice.ie

For guidance relating to storage requirements and safety measures, please consult the following: