Construction Act 2025 and the requirement for construction permits
A new one entered into force at the beginning of 2025 construction law, which guides construction and applies to permit applications submitted after January 1.1.2025, XNUMX. With the Construction Act, all construction measures that require a permit are applied for as construction permits. In addition, the demolition permit, demolition notice and landscape work permit remain as permit types.
With the construction law coming into effect at the beginning of 2025, there will be only one type of permit in use in the future, which is a construction permit. The new law therefore combines the previous permit forms (building permit, operation permit and operation notification) into one permit form.
This page contains instructions on the availability of a permit according to the new law. Take a look at the content of the page and see some instructions related to the need for permits for the most common construction projects.
By following these instructions, you can ensure that you do not accidentally carry out the construction project in violation of the regulations. Violation of the law and regulations leads to subsequent monitoring and, in the worst case, the demolition of the building.
You can get personal help from the building supervision of the city of Äänekoski when you wonder if you need a permit for your construction project. Feel free to ask for advice! Our contact information can be found here.
Read more in the announcement on 10.1.2025 January XNUMX.
When do you need a building permit?
A building permit is required for the construction of buildings and construction sites, but some smaller construction projects will no longer require a permit procedure in the future.
Residential buildings and holiday buildings always require a building permit. A building permit is required for the construction of a building of 30 square meters or more and for the construction of a canopy over 50 square meters.
The most common measures prior to building permission:
The construction of a new construction site requires a building permit, e.g., if the site is:
- Residential building or holiday home
- At least 30 m in size2 or 120m3 existing building other than a residential building
- At least 50 m in size2 existing canopy
- Energy well, i.e. geothermal well
- An area built for a special activity, which causes effects on the use of the surrounding areas, as well as a mast and public structure.
In addition, a building permit is required if the construction project (including the construction of a building other than a building) has a minor, more significant impact on the use of the areas, cityscape, landscape, cultural heritage or environmental aspects, or if the project requires official supervision due to, for example, technical requirements and the public interest.
The construction of a waste water treatment system usually requires a building permit, even if the building itself does not require one (e.g. the waste water system of a beach sauna).
The need for a building permit for repairs, alterations and extensions
A building permit is also required for repair and alteration work that is comparable to the construction of a building, as well as for expanding a building or adding more space to its floor area. Below are some examples of such measures:
- Increasing the floor area of the building, removing a health hazard or changing the purpose of use.
- Repairs and alterations according to their quality and value. E.g. the change of purpose of use of the sauna building to a holiday building requires a permit.
- Line renovation (e.g. renewing the building's water pipes).
- In the case of protected buildings, a permit is always required for repairs.
When do you not need a building permit?
A building that is not a residential or holiday building and is smaller than 30 square meters or 120 cubic meters generally does not need a building permit.
In the future, you can therefore build, for example, an outbuilding of less than 30 square meters without a permit, as long as the building and planning regulations and other construction regulations are met. For all buildings, however, the planned construction site must have the necessary building rights.
Less than 30 m2 sized sauna building or household building
Less than 30 m2 the construction of a sauna building or an outbuilding does not require a building permit.
What is a sauna building?
A sauna building is a building in which at least half are rooms serving the sauna. The building may have a living room with, for example, a fireplace to heat the building. The sauna building cannot have a room equipped for food preparation, for example an electric, wood or gas stove.
What is an economic building?
An outbuilding is a building that cannot be used for living. The outbuilding serves the property's main building. Outbuildings include, for example, garages, warehouses, saunas, work spaces, hobby spaces and sheds. The outbuilding may have heating. The outbuilding cannot have a room equipped for food preparation, for example an electric, wood or gas stove.
Construction of a sauna building or an outbuilding in the planning area
When a sauna building or an economic building is built in a zoned general or site plan area (including a waterfront site plan area), the following must be taken into account:
- The building must comply with planning regulations.
- The building site must have a building right (the building right is specified in the plan).
- The building must be placed in such a way that the distances to neighbors' borders and buildings, as well as to one's own buildings, are in accordance with planning regulations, fire regulations and regulations.
- Felling trees to be felled from under buildings may require a landscape work permit for felling trees, and construction of a wastewater system may require a building permit.
Construction of a sauna building or an outbuilding outside the planning area
Less than 30 m2 the construction of a sauna building and an outbuilding on an existing building site is exempt from the need for a permit outside the planned areas. The following things must be taken into account during construction:
- The construction site must have a building right for the construction of the building. Regarding building rights, e.g. in the building order of the municipality.
- The building must be placed in such a way that the distances to the neighbors' borders and buildings, as well as to one's own buildings, are in accordance with fire regulations and regulations. From the distance of the building, e.g. private roads and highways must comply with the distance requirements.
- Building a wastewater system may require a building permit.
Less than 50 m2 sized canopy
Less than 50 m2 the construction of a canopy of this size does not require a building permit.
What is a canopy?
A canopy is a building site with at least 30 percent of the wall area open. The canopy can be, for example, a car canopy or a barbecue canopy.
Construction of a canopy in a planned area
When building less than 50m exempt from the need for a permit2 for the canopy's zoned general or site plan area (including the waterfront site plan area), the following must be taken into account:
- The canopy must comply with planning regulations.
- The canopy should be placed in such a way that the distances to neighbors' borders and buildings, as well as to your own buildings, are in accordance with planning regulations, fire regulations and regulations.
- Felling trees under buildings may require a landscape work permit for felling trees.
Construction of a canopy outside the planning area
The construction of a canopy of less than 50 m2 on an existing construction site is exempted from the need for a permit outside the planning areas. The following things must be taken into account during construction:
- The canopy should be placed in such a way that the distances to neighbors' borders and buildings, as well as to your own buildings, are in accordance with fire regulations and regulations.
- From a distance, e.g. private roads and highways must comply with the distance requirements.
How do you work in construction projects that do not require a building permit?
Even if your construction project is one that does not require a construction permit, construction is still governed by many other regulations that you, as the person responsible for the construction project, should take into account.
Projects that fall outside the scope of the permit are good to find out on a case-by-case basis, so please contact the building control when planning a construction project!
It's good to remember that in the future you can't build however you want and wherever you want. Even if you don't need a permit, at least consider the following before starting construction:
Construction regulations that must be followed
Here are some examples of construction regulations:
- The building site must have a building right and the project must have a building right.
- Regulations concerning the placement of the building and distances, which may relate to e.g. to road areas, the beach, the border and other buildings.
- Regulations related to fire and operational safety.
- Regulations of plans and building order. Formulas usually determine e.g. building rights, number of floors, building model, number of buildings on the construction site, purpose of use and placement of buildings on the plot. You can find the formulas from the zoning pages. You can also find the building order on the building control website.
Any other necessary permits
Check if your construction project requires any other permit and apply for a permit.
- A building's wastewater system may require a building permit, even if the building itself does not require one.
- Permit or notification from someone other than the building control authority related to the planned activity.
- Implementation of the project may also require a deviation permit, even if a building permit is not required. A deviation permit may be needed, for example, when the construction project deviates from the regulations of the plan or the building right is exceeded.
Construction project planning and documentation
The building must be designed and built in accordance with regulations and regulations, regardless of whether it requires a permit. For this, you need designers who meet the eligibility requirements, construction plans, and expert and professional personnel to implement your construction project.
By using professionals, you also ensure the longest possible service life, health and functionality of your building.
Good planning and accurate documentation is an advantage even after the construction project is completed. For example, when dealing with an insurance company or in a sales situation, it is an advantage if you can present the appropriate drawings of the project, reports on the persons performing the construction work and the persons responsible, as well as electrical etc. inspection records.
Water and sewer connections
If the building is or has been connected to the public water and/or sewerage network, the necessary connection statements, agreement, plans, reports on installations and inspections required by the facility are required.
Considering the neighbors
We recommend that you present your building plan to your neighbors in advance. When you take into account the views of the neighbors even before starting the construction project and during the project, it helps to maintain neighborly cooperation. The minimum distance of the buildings from the neighbor's border must be at least four meters. There must also be the distances required by the fire regulations from the neighboring buildings.
Other responsibilities of the construction project
Please remember that as the person responsible for the construction project, you must, for example, report the wages paid for the construction work to the tax authority. All work subject to a building permit must be given to the taxman construction notice (www.vero.fi).
Remember to also complete the property tax declaration in the necessary parts (see instructions www.vero.fi)
Apply for a building permit at the Lupapiste service
A building permit for the city of Äänekoski is being applied for Permission point-service. Lupapiste is a service where you can apply for permits within the building supervision sector and handle related official matters electronically. Permits must be applied for separately for each project.
The service gathers the municipal authority, builder, designer and other construction professionals at one address. Applications and materials are forwarded directly to the municipality's systems for decision-making.
Find out before applying for permits To the instructions of the Lupapiste service applicant.
Construction right
In the area of the general plan with status and legal effects, the right to build is presented in the planning regulations. From the zoning website you can find the valid formulas in Äänekoski and the upcoming changes to them.
In areas that do not have a formula with legal effect, it may be necessary to apply for a deviation permit before processing the permit.
The deviation application is submitted to the Planning Manager. The City Board processes the deviation application.
License applicant
Only the owner of the property or a person authorized by him can act as a permit applicant. For example, for a measure to be carried out in a building society that requires a building permit, the building society acts as the permit applicant, not an individual shareholder.
Entry into force of the building permit
All permit decisions are published as public notices on the city's website. The building inspector must be notified of the commencement of work.
Construction work may not begin until the permit decision is legally binding. The permit decision is legally binding when the period for appealing the decision has expired and the decision has not been appealed.
In permits issued by the building inspector, the period for requesting correction is 30 + 7 days from the date of announcement.
A person dissatisfied with a building control permit decision can appeal the decision by submitting a written request for rectification to the official who made the permit decision. A permit decision made by the Environmental Board can be appealed by appealing to the Hämeenlinna Administrative Court.
Validity period of the building permit
The construction permit is valid for five years. However, construction work must start within three years from the date of the legality of the permit decision. For a special reason, an extension of up to two years can be applied for starting construction work.
Once the construction work has started, you can apply for an extension to complete the construction work for a maximum of three years at a time.
Building control helps and advises
Our building control exists for the citizens of the municipality. Contact us when you are planning to start a construction project, whether it is a project subject to a permit or not. We can discuss what all you should take into account and you can more confidently start the construction project.
For more information:
Building control contact information
Bulletin of the Association of Municipalities: The Building Act will come in 2025, what will change?
