Judge Desmond Windle yesterday accused Dublin Corporation of not taking enough action over the demolition of traditional street frontages and their replacement with what he described as "excrescences".
He imposed the maximum fine of £1,000 on a builder who failed to restore the original front boundary of his home which he had opened up to install a gate and driveway.
Brian McKeown, St Laurence Road, Clontarf, Dublin, denied failing to comply with an enforcement notice requiring him to restore the original boundary.
He had lodged a number of planning applications since 1997 to retain the vehicular entrance and driveway he created. All were turned down because it was considered that development caused the "further erosion" of character of the street.