Construction & Renovation

If you need to use a public street or green area for something other than its normal purpose, you must apply for a permit from the municipality. Common uses include outdoor events, festivals, terrace seating for restaurants, construction sites, scaffolding, container placement, and filming. The permit is site-specific and time-limited.Applications are submitted to the municipal department responsible for streets and public areas, typically at least two weeks before the planned use. Municipalities charge fees that vary by location, area size and duration. If you rent an area for construction, you must erect a site board showing the contractor and the responsible person's contact details. You are liable for any damage to the area during the permit period.

Issued by: Municipal street and green area administration

The property owner must come to an agreement with the water utility on connecting the property to the water and sewer network. Properties located in urban areas must generally be connected to the municipal or joint municipal water supply and sewerage network. Municipal or joint municipal water services have an obligation to ensure residents have access to proper drinking water and appropriate sewage drainage and treatment.When property ownership changes, the agreement generally transfers to the new owner. The property owner pays for connecting to the water and sewer network, technical connection work, water use and sewage fees. Outside urban areas, property owners do not always have an obligation to connect to water services if the property's water supply and sewerage are properly managed by other means.

Issued by: Water utility

The extraction of land materials (stone, gravel, sand, clay and soil) for removal, on-site storage or processing requires a permit under the Land Extraction Act. The permit is applied for from the municipal environmental protection authority.If land extraction involves simultaneous stone quarrying and stone crushing on the same operational area, an environmental permit is usually required in addition to the land extraction permit. Permits can be applied for with a single application, in which case they are processed together and decided by the same decision. The holder of a land extraction permit must submit an annual notification of the quantity and quality of extracted materials using an electronic notification form.

Issued by: Municipal environmental protection authority

A landscape work permit is required by a land owner or holder for earthworks, tree felling and similar activities that alter the landscape in areas covered by a local detailed plan. In areas covered by a general plan, a landscape work permit must be applied for if so specified in the general plan.The application is decided by the authority designated by the municipality. A landscape work permit is not required for felling individual trees as part of plot maintenance. A landscape work permit is also not required if the activity is related to a granted building permit.

Issued by: Authority designated by municipality

In an area covered by a local detailed plan, demolishing a building or part of it generally requires a demolition permit. A demolition permit must also be applied for outside the local detailed plan area if there is a building ban in the area or if so specified in the general plan.Even if a permit is not required for demolition, a demolition notification must be submitted to building control 30 days before starting the work. The building control authority may, within 30 days and for justified reasons, require an application for a demolition permit.

Issued by: Municipal building control

A building permit or other official approval is required for the construction of residential buildings and other construction that exceeds certain limits. A permit is also required for building extensions, significant repairs and alterations, and changes of use. The Building Act and the municipal building regulations define when building activities require a permit.In addition to permit requirements and conditions for granting permits, the Building Act regulates permit application documents and the execution of construction work. A competent principal designer and a principal contractor must be appointed for the construction work. Building permits are applied for from the municipal building control authority.

Issued by: Municipal building control authority

A planning requirement decision or deviation decision may be required before applying for a building permit in certain situations. A planning requirement decision is needed when applying for a building permit in a planning requirement area, i.e., an area outside the municipality's detailed planning where there may be a need to take action.A deviation decision is required if the builder wants to deviate from the plan or other provisions, regulations, prohibitions or other restrictions under the Land Use Act or issued pursuant to it. The municipality can grant an exception under certain conditions, but a special reason is always required for deviation, and it must not cause harm.

Issued by: Authority designated by municipality

Determining the elevation of a plot is a surveying measure that establishes the height of the building site above sea level. Marking the location of a building indicates the planned location of the building according to the plans. A location review determines the location of the building and a statement is issued if necessary.A plot elevation determination can be requested from the municipality's real estate office. A final inspection cannot be carried out before the location review has been completed.

Issued by: Municipal real estate office

Properties must as a rule connect to the water and sewer networks of the municipal or joint municipal water supply facility, especially properties in town plan areas. The municipal environmental authority may upon application grant a property under construction an exemption from the obligation to connect to the water or sewer network on certain grounds.An exemption can be granted if connection to the network would be unreasonably expensive or difficult, if the need for services is very minor, or if there are other special reasons for the exemption. The exemption must not endanger proper water services in the area. The property must have sufficient appropriate household water, and the exemption holder must ensure wastewater treatment in accordance with Environmental Protection Act requirements.

Issued by: Municipal environmental authority

A private road grant is financial support provided by the municipality for the construction, repair and maintenance of private roads. Grants may be applied for jointly by road associations (tiekunta) or road shareholders (tieosakkas).The municipality may grant subsidies for the maintenance of private roads or assume full or partial responsibility for road maintenance. Grants may also be available from state funds. If the state or municipality provides subsidies to a road association or road shareholders jointly for road maintenance, the road must be accessible to all.

Issued by: Municipality