Ancient Monuments and Remains

All ancient monuments and remains (fornlämningar) in Sweden are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act (kulturmiljölagen). This includes both known and undiscovered remains. If you are planning construction, excavation, or ground work that may affect an ancient monument or its surrounding protection area, you must apply for a permit from the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen).

The protection area around each monument varies and is determined by the County Administrative Board. You can check whether your site has known ancient remains using the Swedish National Heritage Board's search service Fornsök. The permit must be granted before any work begins. If you discover remains during construction, you must stop work and contact the County Administrative Board immediately.

Requirements

  • Ancient monument: If planned work (construction, excavation, etc.) may affect an ancient monument, a permit is required.
  • Protected area: Normally 100 meters around the monument, in some cases up to 300 meters.
  • Verification: Use the Swedish National Heritage Board's search service Fornsök to see if there are ancient monuments on your property.

Application Procedure

  • Authority: Application is submitted to the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the ancient monument is located.
  • Contact: Contact the County Administrative Board for information on the size of the protected area and how to apply.
  • Timing: Permit must be granted before work commences.