Permits and notifications for events

Alcohol service permit

An alcohol service permit is required to serve alcohol. Events usually apply for a fixed-term alcohol service permit, except in cases where the event venue has been pre-approved as an alcohol service area and the server already holds a valid alcohol service permit. The application should be submitted at least one month before alcohol service begins.

Read more about the alcohol service permit

Apply for the permit through the online service

Lottery permit

Organizing a lottery, bingo, or guessing competition at an event generally requires a lottery permit. The permit is applied for from the police.

Apply for a lottery permit from the police

Food business operations

A notification must be submitted to the food control authority regarding the arrival of a mobile food premises at an event. A mobile food premises refers to, for example, tents, sales trailers, and other similar sales points involved in regular food business activities that are moved from one event to another. The notification must be submitted no later than four days before operations begin.

Read more about outdoor sales and temporary food business activities

Submit a notification for a mobile food premises

Registration as an animal holding site

If even one production animal is present at a public event, the event venue must be registered as an animal holding site. The event organizer is responsible for the animals’ welfare, as well as for their feed and the proper collection of their waste.

Animal holding areas must be located far enough from food sales and serving areas to ensure food safety.

Bringing even one production animal (such as cattle, sheep, or pigs) to an event requires the organizer of the exhibition to register the exhibition site as an animal holding site by notifying the Regional State Administrative Agency. More information

• Guidelines for bringing animals to an agricultural exhibition or other event (pdf)

Organizers should keep in mind that animals often attract large crowds, which must also be taken into account in terms of traffic arrangements.

Fireworks at events

Fireworks displays may only be organized by a professional company licensed by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency. Notification of a fireworks display must be submitted to the local police at least 14 days before the event begins.

Submit a notification for a fireworks display

Note! Fireworks always also require the landowner’s permission. In the city centre, an exceptional fireworks display on land controlled by the City of Hämeenlinna requires, in addition to the landowner’s and police permits, a press release published in Hämeenlinnan Kaupunkiuutiset on the Wednesday of the preceding week.

Waste management plan for the environmental authority

Events must not cause littering of the environment. A waste management plan must be drawn up for public events with more than 5,000 attendees and submitted to the environmental protection authority at least two weeks before the event.

Notify the city of a large public event

Waste management and adequate toilet facilities must also be arranged for smaller events. The obligation to sort waste applies to all events.

Guidelines for waste management at large public events

Read more about waste management supervision in Hämeenlinna

Temporary campsite

A written notification must be submitted at least 3 months before the event if a campsite will be organized in connection with it. The notification is submitted electronically to the City of Hämeenlinna’s Authority Services, Environmental Protection.

Read more about campsite notifications.

Temporary advertising and signage permit

A permit from the city is required for advertising on city-owned areas. The permit is applied for using the permit application. Advertisements for which a permit has been granted may be placed one week before the event and must be removed no later than the next business day after the event. Permanent advertisements require a building and placement permit.

No permit is required for advertising stands placed in front of businesses. An advertising stand may not be placed on the pavement unless a clear passage of at least 1.5 m remains. Advertising stands must be removed when the business closes.

Read more about the temporary advertising and signage permit and submit an application

Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation may be arranged in premises not approved for overnight or accommodation use under the current building permit. The conditions for temporary accommodation must be reviewed with the building’s owner or occupant, who must submit the site’s rescue plan to the local rescue authority at least 14 days before the temporary accommodation begins.

Guidelines for safety arrangements for temporary accommodation

Notification of temporary accommodation

Noise notification

Sound amplification equipment may be used at events between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. A noise notification must be submitted at least 30 days before the event for the use of sound amplification equipment between 10 p.m. and midnight, or for other noise-generating events.

Activities may not begin until 30 days have passed since the notification was submitted. In Hämeenlinna and Hattula, notifications are submitted to the City of Hämeenlinna’s Authority Services, Environmental Protection, and sent to kaupunkirakenne@hameenlinna.fi. Noise notifications for events can also be submitted using the large public event form. Read more about noise notifications

Teosto event licence

A Teosto event licence is required for playing live or recorded music at events. The licence is required for events of all sizes, both paid and free of charge.

Read more about the Teosto event licence

Get a Teosto event licence

Action permit

An action permit must be applied for from the city for various structures, movable equipment, facade modifications, and advertising measures other than those specified in the Highway Act.

An action permit is required, for example, in the following cases:

• construction of a shelter, shed, kiosk, toilet, performance stage, or similar structure (structure)
• establishment or construction of a sports or gathering area, an area for caravans or similar other than those referred to in the Outdoor Recreation Act, or a similar area, as well as a grandstand, public tent, or similar
• keeping a caravan, houseboat, or similar in place for a purpose not related to ordinary camping or boating (movable equipment)
• construction of a mast, chimney, storage tank, ski lift, memorial, fairly large antenna, wind turbine, fairly large lamp post, or similar (separate device)
• arranging a fairly large storage or parking area separated from other areas, or a comparable area (storage area)
• placing outdoors a structure, text, or image other than that provided for in Section 52 of the Highway Act (503/2005) for advertising or other commercial purposes, or permanently or long-term placing an advertisement covering a window (advertising measure)

The action permit is applied for through the Lupapiste.fi service.

Under the Road Traffic Act, the temporary closure of a road is decided by the party entitled to install traffic control devices. Permit for road closure – Police

Apply for a permit for a temporary road closure

The decision is sent to the registry of the Häme Police Department: kirjaamo.hame@poliisi.fi

Pyrotechnics and fire performances at events

A notification must be submitted to the rescue authority at least 14 days before the event begins for the use of pyrotechnic effects or a fire performance at a public event.

Pyrotechnic effects at a public event

Submit a notification for the use of effects

Submit a notification for a fire performance

Sales permit for tobacco and nicotine products

A sales permit is required to sell tobacco products and nicotine liquids at events. The application must be submitted to the Licensing and Supervisory Authority at least four weeks before the event. Tobacco products and their trademarks may not be displayed.

Read more about tobacco control

Apply for a permit to sell tobacco and nicotine products

A rescue plan must be drawn up for public events and other events that involve a significant risk to personal or fire safety due to the large number of attendees or other special reasons. The rescue plan assesses the hazards and risks of the event and, based on these, defines the safety arrangements and safety instructions for the event. The rescue plan must be submitted to the local rescue authority at least 14 days before the event. A safety document must be prepared for large events or those with a significant safety risk, which may be combined with the rescue plan.

See the guidelines and forms of the Kanta-Häme Rescue Department

Usage permits for public areas

A landowner’s permit is always required for organizing events and occasions as well as for temporary sales locations. On city-owned land, a landowner’s permit is required. The permit supervisor or inspector grants landowner’s permits only for street areas and public areas owned by the City of Hämeenlinna. For land not owned by the city, the landowner must be identified and the permit negotiated directly with them.

The application should be submitted well in advance of the planned start of the event. Areas are reserved in the order in which applications are received.

Applications should preferably be sent to tapahtumaluvat@hameenlinna.fi

Notification of a large public event

A notification must be submitted to the city’s Environmental Protection and Health Control units for a large public event or other event expected to attract more than 500 participants at the same time. The notification must be submitted at least four weeks before the event. No decision is issued on the notification, and no fee is charged for processing it.

Notify the city of a large public event

Notification of a public event to the police

Public events generally must be reported to the police. It is advisable to submit the notification early, especially for larger events. A written notification of a public event must be submitted at least five days before the event begins; events requiring traffic arrangements must be reported at least two weeks in advance. Large or multi-day events should be reported as soon as planning begins. A safety plan must be attached to the notification.

Read more about notifying public events