Stormwater

Stormwater refers to rainwater and meltwater from snow that is diverted away from streets, roofs, and other built surfaces. Drainage water from foundations is also classified as stormwater.

Within detailed plan areas, the City of Hämeenlinna holds overall responsibility for stormwater management. To cover the resulting costs, the city collects a stormwater fee from property owners. For rental plots owned by the city, the fee is collected from the tenant.

Stormwater fee

The City Council has decided on the billing of the stormwater fee. According to the law, the fee may be collected from the property owner or holder. This is a public-law fee that is directly enforceable. The stormwater fee is based on Section 103 n of the Land Use and Building Act (22.8.2014/682).

Stormwater fees cover most of the costs arising from stormwater management in the City of Hämeenlinna. Costs are incurred, for example, from the maintenance and new construction of stormwater systems.

The stormwater fee is billed once a year

The city bills the stormwater fee once a year. The fee applies to all built properties within the detailed plan area, regardless of whether the stormwater is managed through soil absorption, an open ditch,
or a stormwater sewer.

The stormwater fee is determined annually based on the ownership information valid on 1 January. If a property has multiple owners, all are jointly responsible for the fee. The invoice is sent to one of the property owners, who has the right to manage the distribution of costs among the owners.

Changes to billing and ownership information

You can use the electronic feedback form to report changes related to stormwater billing; you can:

• request a new due date for the stormwater invoice
• report a change in property ownership or billing information
• provide an e-invoicing address.

Please submit the notification as soon as possible to ensure the information is updated before the next billing cycle.

Amount of the stormwater fee

The stormwater fee for a detached house is €45 per year. The fee for a semi-detached house is €90 per year.

The fee for other properties is determined based on the property’s area and intended use.

Impact of surface area on the fee

Total area of the property	Fee per year
under 2,500 m²	€45
under 5,000 m²	€67.50
under 7,500 m²	€90
under 10,000 m²	€112.50
under 25,000 m²	€168.75
under 50,000 m²	€225
over 50,000 m²	€281.25

Coefficients for intended use

Property type	Coefficient
Detached houses and single-apartment holiday homes, detailed plan designation e.g., AO or AP	1
Semi-detached houses, detailed plan designation e.g., AO or AP	2
Terraced houses, detailed plan designation e.g., AR	4
Apartment buildings, detailed plan designation e.g., AK or AL	8
Commercial, industrial, and office buildings, detailed plan designation e.g., K, T, or L	8
Public service buildings and community technical maintenance, detailed plan designation e.g., Y or E	8
Buildings serving tourism	8
Other properties	1

Maximum fee per apartment

For properties primarily serving residential purposes in fee coefficient categories 4 and 8, the number of apartments entered in the register has been taken into account in billing. The fee is limited to a maximum price of €45 per apartment (residential or commercial unit).

If you believe an error has occurred in the application of the maximum price, please follow the instructions for a reduction application, but mark the grounds for reduction as ‘apartment-specific maximum price’ and include a report on the number of apartments.

The invoice must be paid by the due date regardless of any submitted objection. If the objection leads to a reduction in the stormwater fee, the difference will be credited to the specified account. An official decision will be made regarding objections, which may be appealed to the Urban Environment Committee.

Reduction of the stormwater fee

Reductions cannot be applied for in the case of plots for detached, semi-detached, terraced, or apartment buildings.

Other properties may apply for a reduction if any of the following grounds defined in the tariff are met:

1. Solutions have been implemented on the property in accordance with a permit approved by building control that reduce, delay, or treat stormwater. The diversion of stormwater into, for example, a stormwater sewer or an open ditch is not considered the reduction, balancing, or treatment of stormwater generated on the property.
2. The property has received permission to divert all its stormwater into the state system.
3. At least 40 percent of the property’s surface area is covered by vegetation.
4. The property is in non-profit use. The use of a property for non-profit purposes is assessed on a case-by-case basis, utilizing criteria such as those from the Tax Administration. If only a minor portion of the property’s use (in terms of time or area) is for non-profit purposes, a partial reduction will not be granted and the application will be rejected. The applicant must provide the necessary documentation regarding the use of the property to receive the reduction.

A reduction can only be granted on one ground at a time.

Exemption from the stormwater fee

You may apply for an exemption from the stormwater fee if both of the following conditions are met:

• the property is located in an unrealized detailed plan area
• the city does not maintain streets in the property’s area according to the street maintenance classification.

How to apply for a reduction or exemption

Submit the application using the electronic form. Be prepared to provide at least the following information:

• property identifier
• customer number
• invoice number / case number
• grounds for the application
• necessary reports and attachments.

Record the grounds for the application on the form under the ‘feedback’ section as accurately as possible. Specify the basis on which the change to the stormwater fee is requested and which facts support the presented claim.

If you cannot use the electronic form, send the application by mail to the City of Hämeenlinna Urban Environment Infrastructure Services at the following address:

City of Hämeenlinna,
Urban Environment, Infrastructure
Suosaarentie 4,
13210 Hämeenlinna

Mark the envelope with the heading “Application for reduction/exemption from stormwater fee”.

State the following in the application:

• property identifier
• property owners
• customer number
• invoice number / case number
• the ground according to the tariff on which the reduction/exemption is sought, as well as the documents required to support the application or demonstrate the grounds (as attachments if necessary)
• possible attachments
• information on whether you wish to receive the notification electronically or by mail, and the delivery address for the notification.

Decisions on which stormwater fees are based

• Organization and financing of stormwater management in Hämeenlinna (City Council § 67, 15.5.2017)
• Agreement on stormwater sewerage service (City Board § 135, 26.3.2018)
• Clarification of the determination criteria for the City of Hämeenlinna stormwater fee and the stormwater tariff (City Council § 71, 10.6.2019)
• Determination criteria for the City of Hämeenlinna stormwater fee in 2018 (stormwater tariff) (City Council § 56, 14.5.2018)
• Urban Environment Committee 8.12.2020 § 215 (date for verification of ownership information)

Further information

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Contact information