Building permits

Building permit

The Building Act introduced a single type of permit for construction: the building permit. For the building permit, we examine the location requirements and implementation requirements in a single permit decision.

If the applicant specifically requests it, we can examine the conditions for placement in a separate decision, a building permit for the conditions for placement. In this case, you will still need your own permit for the actual construction, a building permit for the conditions for implementation.

Building permit for new construction

According to the Building Act, a building project requires a building permit if the site is

1. residential building (permanent or holiday home) regardless of the size of the building
2. a building with a minimum size of 30 square metres or 120 cubic metres
3. a canopy with a minimum size of 50 square metres
4. a public structure that can be used simultaneously by at least five natural persons, with the exception of event structures that are kept in place for a maximum of three months
5. a mast or chimney at least 30 metres high
6. illuminated advertising device measuring at least 2 square metres
7. energy well
8. an area to be constructed for specific activities, which will have an impact on the use of the surrounding areas.

The volume mentioned in point two shall apply if the amount of construction is specified in the town plan as a volume.

• rakentamisella on vähäistä merkittävämpää vaikutusta alueiden käyttöön, kaupunkikuvaan, maisemaan, kulttuuriperintöön tai ympäristönäkökohtiin
• rakentaminen edellyttää viranomaisvalvontaa olennaisten teknisten vaatimusten toteutumisen varmistamiseksi tai
• rakennusvalvonnan on tarpeen valvoa rakennuskohteen rakentamista yleisen edun kannalta. 

A building permit is also required for the construction of a new building if

Kunnan Rakennusjärjestyksen 7 §:ssä on esitetty rakentamiskohteet, jotka voidaan suorittaa ilman rakentamislupaa tietyin edellytyksin. Lupatarvetta on avattu myös rakennusjärjestyksen perusteluosassa. Tutustu kunnan rakennusjärjestykseen ja sen perusteluosaan tästä.

Rakentamislupa muutos- tai korjausrakentamisessa

Korjaus- ja muutostöiden osalta lupa on tarpeen, mikäli

• construction has a minor impact on the use of areas, the cityscape, the landscape, cultural heritage or environmental considerations
• construction requires official supervision to ensure that essential technical requirements are met, or
• building control is necessary to supervise the construction of a building site in the public interest. 
• toimenpidealueen kantava rakenne on vaurioitunut
• korjaustoimenpiteet voivat vaarantaa rakennuskohteen terveellisyyden tai turvallisuuden
• korjaamisella on merkittävää vaikutusta kaupunkikuvaan, maisemaan tai kulttuuriperintöön.

We determine the need for a permit in such cases on a case-by-case basis. We need the building plans as a basis for our assessment.

• korjataan tai muutetaan kaavan tai lain nojalla suojeltua tai historiallisesti tai rakennustaiteellisesti arvokasta rakennusta tavalla, jolla on merkittävää vaikutusta rakennuksen suojeltavalle tai rakennustaiteelliselle arvolle
• rakennuksen vaippaan tai teknisiin järjestelmiin liittyvällä korjaus- tai muutostyöllä voidaan vaikuttaa merkittävästi rakennuksen energiatehokkuuteen tai energia- ja ympäristövaikutuksiin rakennuksen koko elinkaaren aikana
• muutetaan rakennuksen tai sen osan käyttötarkoitusta olennaisesti

Korjaus- ja muutostöissä tulee myös lupatarve arvioida hankekohtaisesti ja arviointi perustuu rakennusvalvonnalle esitettävien rakennussuunnitelmien pohjalta.

Building permit for alteration or renovation work

A permit is required for repair and alteration work if

Lupahakemukseen tulee liittää

• repair and alteration work is comparable to building construction
• it is a matter of extending the building or adding space that counts towards the floor area
• the repair is aimed at eliminating the health hazard identified in the area of intervention to a greater extent than minor
• the load-bearing structure of the area of intervention has been damaged

A permit is always required for repair and alteration work if

• repairs or alterations to a building that is protected under a plan or law or is of historical or architectural value in a manner that has a significant impact on the protected or architectural value of the building
• Repair or alteration work on the building envelope or technical systems can have a significant impact on the energy efficiency of the building or its energy and environmental impact throughout its life cycle.
• the intended use of the building or part thereof is substantially altered
• selvitys rakennuspaikan terveellisyydestä ja korkeussuhteista
• selvitys rakennuksen kunnosta toimenpidealueen osalta, jos kyseessä on korjaushanke.
• muun lupahakemuksen ratkaisemaksi tarvittavan olennaisen selvitykset

Land-altering earthworks, tree felling and similar activities are subject to authorisation.

• in the town plan area
• beach area zoning plan
• in the general plan area, if so stipulated in the general plan
• in an area where a building ban is in force for the purpose of drawing up a town plan or where such a ban has been imposed for the purpose of drawing up or amending a general plan.

Felling trees in an area designated for agriculture and forestry in the general plan does not require a permit. We recommend that you check with the building control department before proceeding.

You do not need to apply for a landscape work permit if

• it conce s the performance of work necessary for the implementation of a general or local plan or work related to a granted building permit
• these are measures to prepare for a construction project related to the implementation of a legally valid plan
• the measure is based on an approved road plan in accordance with the Transport System and Highways Act or an approved railway plan in accordance with the Railways Act.

Applying for a landscape work permit

Apply for a permit electronically via Lupapiste.

Attach to the licence application

Lupahakemukseen tulee liittää

• proof of ownership, demonstrating that you manage the entire property subject to the measure (title deed, deed of sale, lease agreement or other similar document)
• the main drawings (often site plans and, in the case of landscaping, also cross-sections) of the project, certified by the designer's signature.

The building control authority may require you to attach other reports to your application, depending on the nature and scope of the project.

Measures preceding construction and permit requirements

Before construction work commences, the following measures are permitted

Vaikka lupaa ennakoivista toimenpiteistä ei tarvittaisi, tulee tehtävistä toimenpiteistä kuitenkin rakentamislain 109 §:n mukaisesti ilmoittaa rakennusvalvontaan. Rakennusvalvontaviranomainen varmistaa vielä ilmoituksen jälkeen, edellyttävätkö ilmoitetut toimenpiteet kuitenkin maisematyöluvan.

Ennakoivia toimenpiteitä ennen rakennustyön aloittamista

• piling work for building foundations
• digging, quarrying, tree felling and other similar preparatory work for construction.

Please note, however, that you must submit the piling plan to the building control authority and obtain approval from the site manager before commencing work.

A demolition permit is required for the demolition of a building or part thereof.

• in the town plan area
• in the general plan area, if it is subject to a permit as specified in the general plan
• in an area where a building ban is in force for the purpose of drawing up a town plan.

No permit is required if

• it is an outbuilding or other minor building of a similar nature, unless it is historically significant or architecturally valuable
• An approved street plan or road plan requires the demolition of the building.

It is advisable to clarify the permit requirement well in advance of the work. The property owner is obliged to notify the building control authority of the demolition work, even if no permit is required. The notification will result in the building being removed from the municipal register and the information will also be transferred to the national register (RYHTI).

Demolition notification:
Even if a permit is not required for the demolition of a building or part thereof, the demolition must nevertheless be notified to the building control authority 30 days before the demolition work begins. During this period, the building control authority may, for justified reasons, require an application for a permit to be submitted.

Lupahakemukseen tulee liittää

• hallintaoikeusselvitys, jolla osoitetaan, että hakija hallinnoi koko toimenpiteen alaista kiinteistöä (alle 3 kuukautta vanha lainhuutotodistus, kauppakirja, vuokrasopimus tms.)
• suunnittelijan allekirjoituksella varmennettu asemapiirros

Rakennusvalvonta voi edellyttää hakemukseen liitettäväksi myös muita selvityksiä hankkeen laatu ja laajuus huomioiden

Purkamisilmoitus:
Vaikka lupaa ei rakennuksen tai sen osan purkamiseen tarvittaisi, tulee purkamisesta kuitenkin ilmoittaa rakennusvalvontaan 30 päivää ennen purkamistyöhön ryhtymistä. Rakennusvalvonta voi mainitun ajan kuluessa vaatia perustellusta syystä luvan hakemista.

Purkamisilmoitus tehdään Lupapisteessä purkamislupahakemuksella. Liitteeksi tarvitaan asemapiirros / kartta, johon purettava rakennus on merkitty.

You need a building permit to construct a ground source heat pump system.

The construction of geothermal wells, like all drilled wells, involves environmental risks. Carelessly constructed wells can allow rainwater and runoff to enter the well and from there into the groundwater.

According to Tuusula’s building regulations, the construction of a ground source heat pump system in a groundwater area and the Päijänne Tunnel protection area is prohibited without a water management permit in accordance with the Water Act.

Definition: A balcony is a space that is connected (by a door) to the interior, but does not provide access to the courtyard.

You do not need a permit to glaze your balcony. The prerequisite is that the glass is clear and has an openness of at least 30%. 

You do not need a building permit. However, remember to comply with the Building Act and the regulations issued under it, such as fire regulations.

The chief building inspector/permit inspector/HVAC inspector makes decisions on building, demolition and landscaping permit applications once a week, on Wednesdays.

The length of the permit processing time is significantly affected by whether the chief designer has attached all the necessary documents and made any corrections we may have requested. The permit processing time varies from approximately four weeks to three months, depending on the size and content of the project.

The Building Control Division decides on any requests for rectification. The division meets approximately once a month.

The building permit is valid for five years from the date on which it becomes legally valid. Construction work must commence within three years of the permit becoming legally valid.

The building permit for the placement conditions is valid for three years, during which time you must apply for a building permit for the implementation conditions and commence construction approved by the permit.

We can extend the validity of a building permit or approval for the commencement of work by up to two years. We can extend the deadlines for completion of work by up to three years at a time.

A landscape work permit (for tree felling, among other things) is valid for five years from the date on which it becomes legally valid. We can grant a permit for planned forest management for a maximum of ten years.

The demolition permit is valid for five years from the date on which it becomes legally valid.

Decommissioning notification. Decommissioning must be completed within five years of submitting the decommissioning notification.

The permit for clean transition is valid for five years from the date on which the permit becomes legally valid.

You only need a building permit to construct a new property-specific wastewater system or make significant changes to an existing system in the following areas:

• groundwater and water intake protection areas
• in an area classified as a beach area
• In the Päijänne Tunnel protection zone.

In other areas, no building permit is required for the measure. However, the implementation must comply with the Gove ment Decree on the treatment of domestic wastewater in areas outside sewer networks.

In Tuusula, we use a square-based tariff for new construction in accordance with the Building Act, and the permit fee is determined in accordance with the confirmed tariff.

Example: A detached house has 130 square metres of floor space and an outbuilding has 65 square metres of floor space. If a building permit is required for the outbuilding, the permit fee is approximately €3,500 according to the current tariff. The permit fee also includes the fees for registering the buildings and the start-up meeting. We will invoice the permit fee after the permit decision has been made.

If the construction project does not go ahead, i.e. construction work does not commence, you can apply for a refund of the permit fees in accordance with the building control fees.

You may fell trees on your own property or building site without applying for a permit if the following conditions are met:

• A maximum of five trees may be felled, and the number of trees remaining on the plot after felling must comply with the requirements of the zoning regulations. Unless otherwise specified in the zoning regulations, there must be at least one tree per 200 square metres of undeveloped area on the plot or building site.
• The town plan does not contain any provisions conce ing the protection of trees.
• Trees do not grow on the part of the plot/building site where, according to the town plan, there should be trees.
• The trees are not significant in terms of landscape, for example, impressive old individual trees, groups of trees or similar, whose loss would have a significant impoverishing effect on the environment.
• The neighbour's consent is required for felling trees growing on the boundary.
• A tree that poses a danger to its surroundings may be felled without a permit.

The Neighbourhood Relations Act gives the owner of a plot of land the right to remove roots and branches extending from a neighbour’s property onto their own if they cause a nuisance. The party experiencing the nuisance must first ask the owner of the tree to remove the roots and branches. Only if the owner of the tree does not comply with the request within a reasonable time does the party experiencing the nuisance have the right to take action themselves. The right to remove roots and branches extends only to the boundary line, not beyond it. The Neighbourhood Relations Act is enforced by the police, and disputes falling under the Act are resolved by the district court. Matters relating to the above-mentioned Act do not fall within the remit of the building control authorities.

If you are planning to fell trees outside your own property or building site, please contact the building control department. We will assess whether you need a landscape work permit. We will examine the zoning situation and other landscape impacts. Even felling a single tree may require a landscape work permit.

A canopy measuring less than 50 square metres does not require a building permit. However, when constructing the canopy, you must comply with the planning regulations and any building instructions, as well as the building regulations of the municipality of Tuusula. If, for example, the canopy is located on a plot of land that is to be planted in violation of the local detailed plan, a planning exemption decision must be obtained for the location.

Before implementation, it is advisable to inform the neighbours.

You do not need a permit from the building control authority to insulate an existing cold storage facility. Ventilation must be provided in the storage facility.

Please note that in the case of a housing association, thermal insulation always requires the permission of the housing association.

The construction of a barrel sauna smaller than 30 square metres does not require a building permit, but you must comply with the local plan (station plan or general plan) and other building regulations. Outside the local plan area, the building must be located at least four metres from the neighbour’s boundary. Within the local plan area, the local plan requirements for distances must be followed. However, the minimum distance should be at least eight metres from neighbouring buildings. The chimney must be located above the lower edge of the eaves of the residential building if the sauna is located less than eight metres from another building.

Before implementation, it is advisable to inform your neighbours and agree on the location if the barrel sauna is to be placed very close to the property boundary.

You do not need a building permit to install solar panels or heat collectors on the roof of a small house. If the building has cultural or historical value, or if the solar panels are located on the façade or on the ground, or if it is a solar power plant, you must apply for a building permit.

You do not need a building permit to paint the façade. However, you must comply with the town plan regulations and any building guidelines that may have been drawn up for the area, as well as the colours specified therein.

If the building has cultural and historical value, the project will require a building permit.

When you give up oil heating, the oil tank must be emptied, checked, cleaned and removed from the ground. If removal is not possible, for example due to the location of the tank, you must contact the environmental control department of the Central Uusimaa Environmental Centre regarding leaving the tank in the ground. The Environmental Monitoring Department may approve the leaving of the tank in the ground upon application. You must also contact the rescue authorities when discontinuing oil heating.

For new heating systems (ground source heat, water-to-air heat pump, air source heat pump), check with the building control department to see if you need a permit.