Parties responsible for noise abatement

Environmental Supervision Unit controls and promotes noise abatement in Espoo. The unit is responsible for preparing noise surveys and noise abatement action plans in accordance with the Environmental Noise Directive, monitoring noise issues at construction sites, and processing noise notifications, for example.

The Building Control Department’s service area includes monitoring compliance with the noise abatement-related plan and building regulations. The department also provides guidance to detached house builders during permit processing, particularly in noise abatement matters.

Health Protection Monitoring supervises the measures to prevent noise from disturbing homes and other indoor spaces, such as schools and day-care centres, in Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi. Discretionary indicative measurements of non-traffic noise carried into dwellings may also be carried out. If necessary, more accurate measurements may be requested from the party responsible for the noise.

The Public Works Department is responsible for the planning and construction of noise barriers and related issues.

The City Planning Department is responsible for the development and land-use planning as well as controlling the noise abatement measures by, for example, the detailed plan regulations. Within the City Planning Department, the Traffic Planning Department is responsible for the City’s traffic planning, including surveys and analyses of traffic noise for land-use planning.