Environmental permit and notifications

Your operations require an environmental permit if they may cause a health hazard or notable environmental pollution or the risk of it. These operations apply toe.g. professional waste processing and many industrial food facilities. Activities requiring an environmental permit are listed in the Environmental Protection Act (527/2014).

The environmental permit may state some regulations about the scope of the operations or their emissions and reducing them. Operations requiring a permit can usually only be started when the permit has come into force.

Depending on the nature and scope of the operations, environmental permits in Helsinki are granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland or the Environment and Permits Sub-committee of the Helsinki Urban Environment Committee. Environmental Services prepare permit matters for processing by the Environment and Permits Sub-committee.

Certain activities causing only minor environmental impacts do not require an environmental permit, but you must submit a general notification of such operations in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. Activities requiring a notification are listed in the Environmental Protection Act (527/2014).

The notification must be submitted at least 120 days before starting the operations. We may issue some regulations pertaining to the operations in the decision.

Submit a notification to the Helsinki Environmental Services via Lupapiste.

Fuel distribution stations, asphalt stations, small combustion plants, chemical laundries, plants using certain organic solvents, and concrete stations shall be exempted from the environmental permit procedures if they meet the requirements laid down for their operations in the regulations. Instead of applying for an environmental permit, you should submit a notification to register your operations. The notification must be submitted at least 90 days before starting the operations. You can start your operations when you receive the confirmation that your operations have been registered. Submit a registration notification to the Helsinki Environmental Services via Lupapiste.

Submit a notification of professional waste carrying or transport well in advance before commencing the operations to be registered in the waste management register. Before submitting your notification, contact the City of Helsinki's Environmental Services to find out whether the operations require an environmental permit. Submit a notification to the Environmental Services via the Lupapiste service.

A marina manager must compile a waste management plan for the waste generated by the vessels using the marina. The waste management plan must be updated every five years or if the port operations change in an essential way. Submit the waste management plan to the Helsinki Environmental Services for approval via the Lupapiste service.

You need a permit for holding repeated or permanent rehearsals, exercises and competitions on land or in water areas. Apply for a permission from the Helsinki Environmental Services via Lupapiste.

A notification must be submitted to the Helsinki Environmental Services of activities where the purpose is toe.g. experiment with new raw material or fuel, manufacturing or combustion method, or waste utilisation or treatment method in operations requiring an environmental permit. Submit your notification of experimental activities via the Lupapiste service.

Submit a notification of an exceptional situation whene.g. an accident, disruption in production or a demolition of a structure or equipment generates emissions or waste that may cause an immediate and apparent risk of environmental contamination. You must also submit a notification when non-standard waste management measures are needed due to the volume or type of waste generated. Submit a notification of the exceptional situation to the Helsinki Environmental Services via Lupapiste.

Putting livestock manure in storage clamps must be reported to the Helsinki Environmental Services at least 14 days in advance. The location, size, structure and duration of the storage clamp must meet the requirements of the 'nitrate decree' (Government Decree on Limiting Certain Emissions from Agriculture and Horticulture). Storage clamps cannot replace a more permanent manure storage. Report storage clamp operations via Lupapiste.

A notification of an exception to the prohibition period of manure application must be submitted to the municipal environmental protection authority by the end of October. Report any exceptions via Lupapiste.

Extracting soil for purposes other than personal household needs requires an authorisation under the Land Extraction Act. If you intend to extract more than 500 cubes of soil, you should submit a notification even if you plan to use the soil for personal household purposes. Submit a notification of soil extraction to the Helsinki Environmental Services via Lupapiste.