Landscaping permit

You will need a landscaping permit for earthworks that alter the landscape, tree felling, or other comparable measures in the following areas:

• within a detailed plan area
• areas covered by a master plan, if so stipulated in the plan
• areas subject to a building ban for the preparation of a detailed plan, or where such a requirement has been issued for the preparation or alteration of a master plan

A permit is not required for necessary implementation of a master plan or a detailed plan, for work allowed with a granted building permit, or for measures with minor effects.

• A tree that poses a danger to its surroundings may be felled without a permit. If necessary, the danger posed by the tree must be demonstrable afterwards. The building supervision authority may require a new, equivalent tree to be planted in place of the one felled as dangerous.
• These instructions do not grant the right to fell trees on a plot without a permit over several consecutive years, for example.
• The felling of trees growing on the boundary line of a plot or building site must always be agreed upon with the neighbour.
• It is possible to request an assessment of the minor nature of a measure from building supervision via the www.lupapiste.fi (in Finnish) electronic system by submitting a request for advice under the “Ask for advice” section.
• For harmful vegetation on a plot boundary, see the Act on Certain Neighbourly Relations 13.2.1920/26, Section 8. This Act is supervised by the police, and matters concerning it do not fall within the jurisdiction of the building superivison authorities.

How to proceed (tree felling)

Trees may be felled on a plot or building site without a permit from building control when all of the following conditions are met:

• the detailed plan does not contain regulations regarding the protection, number, or other specific requirements for the trees in question, nor regulations regarding the preservation of the environment.
• the minimum number of trees possibly required by the detailed plan is not undermined.
• the trees to be felled are not significant in terms of the landscape, such as impressive old individual trees, groups of trees, tree-lined avenues, or similar, the removal of which would have a significantly impoverishing effect on the environment. Landscape significance is defined by the building supervision authority.
• a maximum of five trees are felled, and trees remain on the plot even after the felling.

If the measure requires a landscaping permit, it should be applied for in the lupapiste.fi service.

The following attachments are always required for the processing of a landscaping permit application:

• proof of possession of the building site
• a site plan or other report on the number, location, and size of the trees to be removed
• consultation with neighbours (if you do not wish the municipality to carry this out)

Depending on the case, the following attachments may also be required:

• a report on the condition of the tree
• photographs of the trees to be felled
• facade drawings
• a report related to the cultural environment or cityscape