Building permit
Approval is needed
For all construction work a building permit or some approval from authorities is needed. The preconditions for the application of a building permit is that the applicant is the titleholder of the building site. Most often this means ownership of the land or its tenement. The applicant shall have in his use a designer who is approved competent and fulfils the regulated requirements.
The application shall include attached the master drawings of the building where it is to observe that the construction will be in keeping with the local detailed plan and fulfill the requirements set to construction. The basic provisions for this are given in the Act and the more exact regulations in the Degree and in the National Building Code of Finland. Permits are approved by local authority
The building permit will be approved by the local building supervision authority. In every municipality of the country there is a building inspector who prepares the issue or, in case of small buildings, decides the permits himself. Neighbours, who have the right to express their opinion, shall be notified when an application for a building permit is submitted.
Most often, the fire and health authority in the municipality give their opinion of the application. In addition, an approval is needed by services to which the building will be connected (electricity, telecommunication, water supply and sewerage). Permit procedure is in writing and documents are filed. Preconditions
Treatment of the building permit is based on law and regulations, i.e., if preconditions for permit are fulfilled, the permit shall be granted. The most essential preconditions are those dealing with that building is in keeping with the valid local detailed plan, construction fills the technical and other requirements set on it, the building is appropriate for the location concerned, a serviceable access road to the building site exists, water supply and waste management can be organized satisfactorily and without causing environmental harm, as well as, that the building will not be located or constructed in a way that causes unwarranted harm neighbours. Treatment
The applicant is required to pay a fee to the local authority for the treatment of the permit. Its purpose is to cover only a part of the administrative cost.
The times needed for the treatment of the building permit vary, but are in larger cities in the average between 2 and 8 weeks. An applicant or a neighbour that is unsatisfied has the right to appeal, first to the local administrative court and then to the Supreme Administrative Court.
The regional environment centers promote and steer the work of the local supervision authority. The general development of building activities belongs to the Ministry of the Environment.
More information
Mr. Pekka Lukkarinen, Senior Adviser, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 400 143 950
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi
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