Building supervision

The municipality of Tervola uses the Lupapiste.fi service, through which you can apply for construction-related permits electronically. The service employs strong electronic authentication and guides the permit applicant or notifier in attaching the necessary documents.

Often, construction requires a building permit or other official approval. The expansion of a building, as well as significant repair and modification work or a change in its use, also require a building permit. This is regulated by the Building Act. The municipality can also define, in its building regulations, which actions require a permit or notification.

The building supervision authority guides and advises builders, decides on building permits, and carries out inspections during construction.

In addition to regulating the need for a construction permit and the conditions for granting a permit, the Building Act stipulates requirements regarding permit application documents, the qualifications of designers, the execution of construction work, and the responsible persons for a construction project.

Exempted construction (Building Act)

• A permit is required for a residential building or a recreational property and their extensions, regardless of size.
• Separate buildings under 30 m² or 120 m³ and shelters under 50 m² no longer require a permit, as long as they comply with the zoning plan.
• Constructing an economic building on an existing building site is exempt from permit requirements outside of zoned areas.
• Construction exempt from a building permit must comply with the zoning plan and building regulations (including building rights, boundaries of the building area).
• If construction exempt from a permit deviates even slightly from the zoning plan or building regulations, a deviation permit must be obtained.
• Building on shoreline areas outside designated zoning areas requires a positive deviation permit regarding the need for shoreline planning when the building or shelter is located outside the yard area of an existing building site.
• The building must be located in such a way that the distances to the neighbors’ boundaries and buildings, as well as to one’s own buildings, comply with fire regulations and statutes (including free space in front of the main window).
• It is advisable for the builder to be in contact with the neighbors already during the planning stage of construction, so that unnecessary notifications of unauthorized building are not made to the building supervision.
• The distance of the building from a private road and a main road must comply with the requirements set for distances.
• Use a professional for planning the placement of the building.
• For construction exempt from a permit, the builder must acquire sufficient expertise and guidance from a qualified designer, who resolves the technical requirements of the construction and ensures compliance with regulations. Attention should be paid, among other things, to the load-bearing capacity of structures, the adequate dimensioning of structures for snow loads, the management of roof and surface water, and the slope of the topsoil. A structural engineer is required for designing the structures of the building and the canopy.
• The builder must carefully keep the plans and other documents of a construction project exempted from a building permit, because they will no longer end up in the permanent records of the building supervision.
• Notification to the tax authorities of a new building for property taxation: Information about a building larger than 5 m² must be reported to the tax authorities. A building does not need to be reported if it is 5 m² or smaller. Link to the Tax Administration’s website