Building permits

A building permit is required for the construction of buildings and building sites, but some smaller construction projects will no longer require a permit in future.

New-build construction

A building permit is required for the construction of a new building, for example, if the building is:

• Residential building or holiday home
• A building other than a residential building with a floor area of at least 30 m² or a volume of at least 120 m³
• A canopy with a minimum area of 50 m²
• Energy well (ground-source heat well)
• An area built for a specific purpose, which has an impact on the use of the surrounding areas, as well as a mast and a public building.
• Construction of a sewage system
• Temporary building. A building is considered temporary if, taking into account its structure, value and intended use, it is intended to remain in situ for a maximum of 10 years. (Building Act, Section 10)
• Extension. Examples include an extra storey, an extension to a detached house or converting the loft
• A mast or tower over 30 metres high

In addition, a building permit is required if the construction project (including the construction of structures other than buildings) has a more than minor impact on land use, the townscape, the landscape, cultural heritage or environmental considerations, or if the project requires official supervision, for example due to technical requirements or the public interest.

The construction of a wastewater treatment system generally requires a building permit, even if the structure itself does not require one (e.g. the wastewater system for a lakeside sauna)

Repair and alteration work

A building permit is also required for repair and alteration work that is comparable to the construction of a building, as well as for the extension of a building or the addition of space that counts towards its floor area. Below are a few examples of such works:

• Renovation, refurbishment or extension carried out as part of renovation work
• Eliminating health risks
• Change of use and alterations to the premises
• Enclosing the terrace completely with glazing and fitting it with a roof.
• Repair and alteration works, depending on their nature and value. For example, changing the use of a sauna building to a holiday home requires planning permission.
• Pipe renovation (e.g. replacing a building’s water pipes).
• A permit is always required for repair and alteration work on listed buildings.
• A new fireplace and/or flue for a residential or holiday home
• Sharing a flat
• Modification of the sewage system

Land-scaping works that alter the landscape, tree felling or other similar measures may not be carried out without a permit within a local detailed plan area. Within a general plan area, a landscape works permit must be applied for if so stipulated in the general plan.

No permit is required for work with minimal impact. Although a landscape work permit is not required, a tree felling application may still be necessary. You can check whether a permit is required with the building control authorities.

Applications for landscape work permits are submitted online via the Lupapiste service.

There are 17 local master plans in force in Keuruu. Of these, the requirement to apply for a landscape work permit is specified in the Pihlajavesi-Asemankylä-Sahankylä local master plan for the entire plan area. In addition, several local master plans contain restrictions regarding clear-cutting and references to forest management:

• Liukko-Häkkinen Shore Master Plan; bans on clear-cutting in parts of shore areas and on islands
• Pihlajavesi Local Master Plan; restrictions on clear-cutting in parts of the riparian forests
• VT18 and MT621 local master plan; flying squirrel habitats
• Jukojärvi-Pohjoisjärvi Local Master Plan; flying squirrel habitats and areas of outstanding natural beauty
• Local master plan for the town centre; restrictions on clear-cutting

No permit is required to fell a single tree that poses an immediate danger to its surroundings. It must be possible to prove that the tree was dangerous, even retrospectively. The building control authority may require a new tree of equivalent size to be planted in place of a tree felled as a hazard, provided that it did not pose an immediate danger to the environment.

In addition, 1–2 trees may be felled on your own property per calendar year without a permit or notification, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

• No more than two trees may be felled per calendar year, and trees must remain on the plot after felling
• Tipping is a one-off operation, not an ongoing activity
• the trees are not of high landscape value (trees of high landscape value include, for example, impressive old solitary trees, valuable tree species, groups of trees, tree-lined avenues and similar features, the loss of which would have a significantly detrimental effect, and which are rare species in Finland)
• the local or master plan does not contain any provisions regarding the protection of trees
• the trees are not protected under the Nature Conservation Act
• There are no trees growing on the part of the plot where, according to the town plan, there should be trees.
• Written consent from the neighbour must be obtained for the felling of trees growing on or near the boundary (within 1 metre)
• In housing companies, the felling of trees has been discussed and approved either at a general meeting or a board meeting, and residents have been informed about the felling.

Tree felling notification

If all the above conditions are not met, or if more than two trees are to be felled within a town plan area, a tree felling notification must be submitted. The tree felling notification must be submitted at least 14 days before the planned work. Depending on the circumstances of each case, the building control authority may require a landscape work permit to be applied for if the notification procedure is not sufficient.

The notification is made by completing the online tree felling notification form.

However, when felling trees, care must be taken to ensure that trees containing birds’ nests are not felled, and that tree felling does not disturb nesting birds between 1 April and 15 August.

Tree felling in housing cooperatives

Housing companies are required to attach an official resolution, passed by the housing company’s board or general meeting, to their tree-felling notification. It is recommended that, in matters conce ing tree felling, all shareholders of the housing company are consulted and that particular weight is given to those shareholders in whose courtyard area the trees intended for felling are located.

Trees on neighbouring properties causing a nuisance

The Neighbourhood Relations Act (Act on Certain Neighbourhood Relations 26/1920) applies to trees on neighbours’ property that cause a nuisance. The Neighbourhood Relations Act is enforced by the police, and disputes falling under the Act are settled in the District Court. The City of Keuruu does not take a position on disputes arising under the Neighbourhood Relations Act.

Trees on council-owned land

The Parks Division of the Municipal Engineering Department is responsible for the trees on municipal land in Keuruu.

A demolition permit is required for the demolition of a building or part thereof within a local plan area or in an area where a building moratorium is in force pending the preparation of a local plan. A permit is also required if so stipulated in the master plan.

No permit is required if a valid building permit or an approved street/road plan requires the demolition of a building. Nor is a permit required for the demolition of outbuildings or other minor structures, with the exception of buildings or parts thereof that are of historical or architectural significance.

Unless a permit is required for demolition, the building control authority must always be notified in writing 30 days before demolition work begins (notification of demolition).

Applications for and notifications of demolition permits must be submitted via the Lupapiste service.

Anyone undertaking a construction project must, when applying for a demolition permit or submitting a demolition notification, include a report on demolition materials and construction waste with their permit application. The report must be prepared and updated in the Demolition Material and Construction Waste Reporting System (Rapu) maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute.

The assessment is carried out in two stages. When applying for a building or demolition permit, or when submitting a demolition notification, an estimate is made of the materials to be released. Once the project is complete, the assessment is updated during the final inspection of the permit by supplementing the earlier estimate on the basis of the waste transfer documents.

No report is required when applying for a permit if the volume of demolition waste is minimal or if no soil or stone materials are removed from the site. The indicative threshold for minimal demolition waste is 100 square metres of floor area for a complete demolition project and 10 tonnes of demolition waste for a renovation project.

Further information on the information system for demolition materials and construction waste.

In Keuruu, depending on the nature of the measure or exemption, applications for exemptions are decided either by the Committee for Vitality and the Living Environment or by the City Council.

An exemption permit is required when construction is to begin but the plans deviate from the plan. A deviation permit is also required if you intend to deviate from a regulation, provision, prohibition or other restriction. A deviation permit is required for building in a waterfront area if there is no local detailed plan or master plan on the basis of which a building permit can be granted. Changing the intended use of a building may require a deviation permit. Changing the intended use of a building or part of it does not necessarily require a deviation permit; instead, the conditions for granting it are examined in the building permit.

A minor exemption in connection with a building permit (Section 59 of the Building Act) may be granted in respect of a minor deviation from a building regulation, prohibition or other restriction. A minor exemption may, for example, involve a slight overshoot of the building area or a deviation from the roof shape specified in the plan. A further condition for a minor deviation conce ing the technical and equivalent characteristics of a building is that the deviation does not jeopardise compliance with the key requirements set for the construction. A minor deviation may also be granted prior to the final inspection stage (Building Act, Sections 117 and 122)

As a general rule, a building that is not a residential or holiday home and is smaller than 30 square metres or 120 cubic metres does not require a building permit. Furthermore, a building permit will no longer be required for canopies smaller than 50 m².

This means that you can, for example, build a sauna or outbuilding of less than 30 square metres without a planning permission, provided that building regulations, planning regulations and other construction requirements are met. However, the proposed site must have the necessary building rights for all structures.

A sauna building is a building in which at least half of the space is dedicated to facilities serving the sauna. The building may include a lounge area with, for example, a fireplace for heating the building. A sauna building must not contain any facilities equipped for food preparation, such as an electric, wood-bu ing or gas cooker.

An outbuilding is a building that cannot be used for residential purposes. An outbuilding serves the main building on the property. Examples of outbuildings include garages, storage sheds, workshops, hobby rooms and ba s. An outbuilding may have heating. An outbuilding may not contain a space equipped for food preparation, such as an electric, wood-bu ing or gas cooker.

A canopy is a structure in which at least 30 per cent of the wall area is open. Examples of canopies include carports and barbecue shelters.

Checklist for projects exempt from the permit requirement

Even if your building project is one that does not require a planning permission, there are still many other regulations gove ing construction that you, as the person responsible for the project, must take into account.

It is worth remembering that, even in future, you cannot build just anything, anywhere. Even if you do not need a planning permission, please bear in mind at least the following points before starting any building work:

• The building site must have planning permission, and the project must have planning permission
• Regulations conce ing the siting of building projects and distances
• Regulations relating to fire safety and operational safety
• Provisions of the planning regulations and building regulations
• Check whether your building project requires any other permits, such as a permit for a sewage system or a deviation permit
• The building must be designed and constructed in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations; in other words, the project must have a designer and a site supervisor who meet the necessary qualifications
• If a building is to be connected or has been connected to the public water and/or sewerage network, the necessary connection certificates, a connection agreement, plans, installation reports and the inspections required by the utility company are required.
• We recommend that you discuss your building plans with your neighbours in advance.
• As the person responsible for the construction project, you must, for example, report the details of the construction site and the wages paid for the construction work to the tax authorities.