Prices of Environmental Protection increased on 1 April 2026
The prices or Espoo’s Environmental Protection were updated on 1 April 2026. The processing and supervision of applications and notifications submitted to Environmental Protection are partly subject to a fee. For example, decisions on environmental permits, noise notifications and, as a new one, exemptions from connecting to water services are subject to a fee. The new prices correspond to the price level of the other cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The City Board of Espoo approved the new tariff in March.
The fees of Environmental Protection are based on the Environmental Protection Act, the Waste Act and the Water Services Act. As a result of the reform of the Water Services Act, decisions concerning exemption from the obligation to connect to water services were made subject to a fee. At the same time, the work involved and the costs incurred in the preparation of all decisions have been re-estimated. The change applies both to companies and to private individuals.
Fees for residents
The decision concerning an application for exemption from connecting to water services costs EUR 590–1,300. The obligation to connect to water services means that the property must be connected to the water supply, the sewerage network and the stormwater system if it is located in the operating area of a water utility or in the area of a stormwater system. The exemption can only be granted if the conveyance and treatment of the property's wastewaters have been arranged in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Environmental Protection Act. Approximately 100 applications for exemption from the obligation to connect are processed in Espoo every year.
In addition, residents are subject to a fee for applications for an exception from the environmental protection regulations, for example, when oil heating is abandoned and the cleaned oil tank cannot be removed from the ground.
Fees for companies
In the case of noise notifications concerning outdoor concerts or construction that causes particularly disturbing noise, the decision will from now on cost EUR 670. The price was previously EUR 535. Approximately 100 decisions concerning noise notifications are made in Espoo every year.
The fees for environmental permits and several other fees for companies have been revised. From now on, the price of regular supervision of installations subject to a permit is EUR 600. The price was previously EUR 300.
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