Applying for a building controls permit

A party engaging in a building project must ensure that an appropriate permit is applied for the project and that the building is designed and built in line with the construction provisions and regulations and the permit granted. The party engaging in the project must have sufficient expertise to carry out the project, taking into account the complexity of the project, and have a qualified team with expertise in the relevant fields at their disposal.

Building Department permit processors provide guidance and advice on both the necessary permits and the permit procedure.

The stages of building permit processing and decision-making are summarised in four stages.

Watch also Building permit process diagram (rakennuslupaprosessi in Finnish).

Downloadable files

RakennuslupaprosessiFile is only available in Finnish

1. Preliminary processing starts the permit process

Espoo Building Control Department emphasises the importance of preliminary processing. The developer and principal designer of the building project must contact Building Control as early as possible when design begins. In this way, issues relevant to the project’s design and permit processing affecting the conditions for granting the permit get addressed in a timely manner. Guidance, advice and review of preliminary plans ensure that the permit application, including all attachments, is sufficiently comprehensive, that the plans are in accordance with the town plan and regulations and that the building is suited to its surroundings. Thereafter, the permit application may be submitted for processing.

A key part of the Espoo Building Control Department’s proactive permit processing policy is to ensure the competence of the designers involved in the building project at the initial stages of the permit processing. It is in the interest of the applicant not to have the design carried out by a person lacking the qualifications required by the regulations. The permit authority’s role is to ensure that competent designers are involved in the planning in line with the project’s complexity.

In order to start the permit project, the permit is established in the e-service, where preliminary processing is requested via a message field with a preliminary inquiry. The establisher (often the main designer) of a permit project must ensure that the party engaging in the building project has read access to the project in question.

Preliminary consultation focuses mainly on design initial data and cityscape aspects. In addition, any issues related to the degree of complexity of the design tasks will also be addressed.

The principal designer presents the building design basis, the main technical starting points for building design, and the issues that need to be discussed in advance on the agenda of Preliminary Consultation 1. The agenda also serves as a memorandum accompanying the permit application on matters that still require attention.

Preliminary Consultation 1 agenda (pages 1–4, in Finnish)(external link, opens in a new window)
Building design basis and project description : OHJE ARK 06(external link, opens in a new window)
Main technical starting points for building design (Espoo additional instructions)
Accessibility: residential buildings Kortti 117e03(external link, opens in a new window), other buildings Kortti 117e01(external link, opens in a new window)
Safety of use: Ympäristöministeriön asetus 1007/2017(external link, opens in a new window)
Design tasks: Valtioneuvoston asetus 214/2015(external link, opens in a new window)

Cityscape Committee

The preliminary consultation states whether the project should be presented to the Espoo Cityscape Committee. The presentation material necessary for this purpose must be prepared taking into account the discussions in Preliminary Consultation 1

Cityscape-related presentation material of the building project: OHJE ARK 12(external link, opens in a new window)
Note: Separate detailed instructions from Espoo Building Control Department

Downloadable files

Lupavaiheen rakennustekniikan ohjaus_ei saavutettavaFile is only available in Finnish
Kaupunkikuvatoimikunnan lausunto, esittelymateriaali ja ennakkokannanottoFile is only available in Finnish

A possible second preliminary consultation addresses the special fields design basis, as well as the issues that need to be discussed in advance on the agenda of Preliminary Consultation 2. The agenda also serves as a memorandum accompanying the permit application on matters that still require attention.

Building Control assesses the necessary scope and manner of carrying out the technical preliminary consultation based on the project’s complexity, preliminary master drawings as well as design and implementation basis documents previously attached to the permit application. Unless the building site presents specific challenges and if the design basis is clearly documented, there is generally no need for extensive preliminary technical consultation. Design solutions that are exceptionally demanding, particularly challenging or deviate from established solutions are also discussed by the Technical Committee for Espoo Building Control.

The smooth control and division of work by Building Control (Permit phase building technology control) require that the necessary technical material at each stage is available at the same time, i.e. things are done as follows:

- The project makes proposals for the degree of complexity of planning and work management tasks, identifies the necessary special designers and demonstrates the designers’ project-specific qualifications.

- The project provides more detailed technical material (below) electronically.

- The principal designer informs the permit preparer when all the technical material has been submitted and the technical processing can begin.

- Building Control examines the material and assesses the need for consultation based on, for example, the scope, method of implementation, building site, documents and preliminary master drawings.

- Issues that are exceptionally demanding (PV), particularly challenging or deviate from established solutions are usually also discussed by the Technical Commitee for Espoo Building Control.

Preliminary Consultation 2 agenda(external link, opens in a new window) (sivut 5-9)
Establishment and basic conditions report: Ympäristöministeriön asetus 9 §(external link, opens in a new window)
Basis for design and implementation of structures: Kortti 117 01(external link, opens in a new window)
Basis for HVAC planning and implementation: Kortti 117 03(external link, opens in a new window)
Basis for fire safety planning and implementation; Topten Policy and/or Fire Safety Plan: Kortti 117 04(external link, opens in a new window) ja Lomake PALO 01(external link, opens in a new window) (external link, opens in a new window)
Basis for design and implementation of acoustics and, if necessary, noise survey, vibration and framework survey and outer casing sound insulation plan: Lomake RAK 05(external link, opens in a new window)
Moisture management survey: Kortti 117 c 01(external link, opens in a new window) ja Ympäristöministeriön asetus 12 §(external link, opens in a new window)
Energy survey: Ympäristöministeriön asetus 34 §(external link, opens in a new window)

Renovation and alteration projects also present:

Report on the energy efficiency of renovation and alteration work : Lomake YL01(external link, opens in a new window)
Report on the health of the building, as well as condition assessment, condition survey and inventory of harmful substances: Lomake YL06(external link, opens in a new window) (external link, opens in a new window)
Report on building safety : Lomake YL09(external link, opens in a new window)

Espoo supplementary material

Master drawings

Instruction on the master drawings to be attached to the building permit application: Ohje ARK 11(external link, opens in a new window)

2. Permit process

If necessary, opinions on the permit application are sought from various parties, such as the Urban Planning Department, Public Works Department or the City Museum. Large and demanding projects are submitted for evaluation to the Cityscape and Technical Committee that operate in the Building Control Department.

The Cityscape Committee examines the suitability of the project for the built environment and landscape, as well as its consistency with the town plan. The Technical Committee examines issues affecting safety and health, including structural and fire engineering solutions. If necessary, the Public Works Department’s permit engineer gives an opinion on street access and traffic arrangements.

Neighbours are consulted regarding the permit application, either by the applicant or by the city.

The application documents and the plan may be amended and supplemented during the permit processing. Submitting an incomplete permit application is not in the interest of the progress of the project. Where the application does not contain the relevant documents or plans are incomplete, the permit processing cannot commence and an estimated decision date cannot be given.

3. Permit decision and legal validity

Construction or any other action may be started once the permit has been granted and has become legally valid. However, the permit authority may, on application, grant the right to commence work on the basis of a security to be lodged before the permit becomes legally valid. You can apply for the right to commence work with the application for a permit. A permit fee in accordance with the rates approved by the Espoo City Council is charged for the permit decision made.

Decision-making powers have been conferred on Building Control Department officials in respect of new construction projects of a size of less than 2,000 m² and in respect of all renovation and alteration projects affecting the safety and health conditions of the building. Officials also decide on action permits and landscape work permits, unless they have a significant impact on the cityscape, as well as on permits for demolition of non-protected buildings.

Decisions by officials are issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Decisions are publicly available on the Building Control website and noticeboard on the days following the decision dates, Wednesday and Friday (public notice dates).

A stamped permit decision is available from the e-service shortly after the decision has been made. Obtaining an electronic decision from the service requires at least read access to the permit project in question. The decision may also be sent by post if the applicant so requests. A decision issued by an official becomes legally valid after 14 days from the date of issue.

Public notice list of decisions of officials

Major construction projects, action permits and landscape work permits of great significance to the cityscape or deviations from the environment, as well as demolition permits for protected buildings, are decided by the Building Control Committee. As a rule, the Building Control Committee meets once every three weeks.

Composition and meeting schedules of the Building Control Committee

Agendas and minutes of committees

A permit granted gives the right to carry out a specific construction or other action. However, the action does not have to be taken and the permit may be allowed to expire.

A building permit expires if the construction work is not started within three years or completed within five years. An action permit, landscape work permit or demolition permit expires if the action is not carried out within three years.

Upon application made during the period of validity of the permit decision, the permit period may be extended under the conditions specified in the Land Use and Building Act.

4. Appeal

A person who is dissatisfied with a permit decision made by a Building Control Department official may appeal against the decision by making a written request for rectification addressed to the Building Control Committee. The period for requesting rectification is 14 days from the date of issue of the decision.

Appeals against permit decisions taken by the Building Control Committee are lodged with the Helsinki Administrative Court. The period of appeal is 30 days from the date of issue of the decision.

Appeals against decisions of the Helsinki Administrative Court are lodged with the Supreme Administrative Court. The period of appeal is 30 days. No further appeal may be brought against decisions of the Supreme Administrative Court.

Permit decisions delivered to the parties involved are accompanied by appeal instructions.

Applying for a building controls permit

Downloadable files

1. Preliminary processing starts the permit process

Preliminary consultation 1 (‘permit process initiation meeting’)

Preliminary Consultation 2 (preliminary technical consultation)

2. Permit process

3. Permit decision and legal validity

Decisions of officials

Decisions of the Building Control Committee

Period of validity and extension of a permit decision

4. Appeal