Addresses
The city maintains an address register and an address map, and assigns house numbers.
A city-wide addressing system for buildings and homes is needed primarily by the emergency services. The absence of an address system in an area, or its failure to function, significantly impairs rescue operations in an emergency. Emergency call centres require correct and accurate address details so that the emergency services can be directed to the scene quickly and reliably.
The City’s Building Control Department handles address matters. House numbers are assigned when a building permit is granted. The City reports new or changed addresses to the road database maintained by the National Land Survey, to the relevant authorities and to the Post Office.
The mere fact that the local authority assigns an address to a property is not enough on its own. The property owner must ensure that the property’s address number is properly marked on the ground.
Postcode marking
Address numbering systems are based either on sequential numbering (within a town plan area) or on distance-based numbering (in sparsely populated areas).
The property owner is required to obtain a number plate to be mounted on the wall of the building. The plate is a white-backed board approximately 20 cm high, with numbers approximately 10 cm high. The number plate must be placed on the wall of the building so that it is visible from the road on which the address is based. If the building is not in the immediate vicinity of the road, the plate must be placed both on the wall of the building and at the junction leading to the property. If the sign is placed by the roadside, it must be mounted on a separate traffic sign post. Where necessary, a double-sided number sign must be used. The address sign guides emergency and maintenance vehicles and other traffic to the property.
The council will install street name signs on all roads covered by the addressing system.
Naming streets and roads
One of the city’s responsibilities is to name roads and streets.
The names of new streets and roads are confirmed within a local plan area upon approval of the local plan. In sparsely populated areas, roads are named by decision of the City Council.
You can submit an application to name a road by email to the Building Control Department. Please include a map extract showing the road in your application, which can be in any format. You must obtain the signed consent of all property owners along the road and include this with your application. You may propose a new name for the road in question. It is recommended that you discuss the name with the owners of other properties along the road. The name may relate to the area, its history, events that have taken place there, etc. The name must not be the same as, or similar to, a road name already in use in Keuruu. The town will assign house numbers in accordance with the new road. There is no charge for applying for a road name.
In due course, a decision will be made regarding the road name, which will be sent to both the authorities and the property owners who will be assigned addresses.
Services provided by the National Land Survey
Through the National Land Survey of Finland’s services, you can view the National Land Survey’s topographic maps and aerial photographs. You can search for maps covering the whole of Finland using place names and coordinates, among other criteria.
In addition to map searches, the service offers many other features, such as coordinate conversion and the creation of map links. You can also order various printed maps via the service. The service is intended for private individuals. It is open to everyone and free of charge, and you do not need to register to use the service if you do not wish to.
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