Espoo to introduce a municipal stormwater fee
Espoo will introduce an annual municipal stormwater fee at the beginning of June. The fee will apply to all properties located within the city’s stormwater system area, i.e. in the areas covered by detailed plans, excluding areas with a detailed shore plan.
In December 2025, the City Council decided that a stormwater fee would be introduced in 2026. The City Board will discuss the introduction and payment criteria at its meeting on 25 May.
A stormwater fee is charged to cover the municipality’s costs arising from the stormwater system. The amount depends on the use of the buildings located on the property and the size of the property.
For example, the fee for a property with one detached house would be EUR 30 per year. The proposed maximum fee in Espoo would be EUR 5,000 per year. The highest fee would apply to properties such as data centres as well as industrial and agricultural properties. It is estimated that stormwater fees will generate about EUR 2.1 million in annual revenue for the city.
The collection of stormwater fees became possible in Finland in 2014 when the Land Use and Building Act was amended. Municipalities can choose whether they collect a stormwater fee. At the moment, fees are collected in about 40–50 municipalities in Finland. In addition to Espoo, Vantaa is also planning to introduce a stormwater fee this year.
In the future, two stormwater-related fees will be charged in Espoo: the municipal stormwater fee and HSY’s stormwater sewerage fees.