Garden construction projects

You must apply for a building permit if you wish to build a conservatory or glassed-in veranda in your yard. Check whether the detailed plan that governs your area allows for more built structures on the plot. A conservatory or glassed-in veranda is considered part of the total floor area.

The space can be unheated, semi-heated or heated, but it must be separated from the living quarters with an external wall and door structures. There must also be access to the outside space from the veranda.

You can build a terrace without a building permit if it is no larger than 29 m2 and close to the ground. The terrace may not be placed on a part of the plot that has been designated for planting in the detailed plan. Buildings, outdoor structures and terraces may not cover more than 35% of the total area of a detached or semi-detached house plot. 

Sheds or other similar structures may also be located outside the designated building area of the plot. However, a shed may not be placed in any plot section designated for planting in the detailed plan.  

Building a shed usually requires you to have permitted building area left. However, this does not apply to structures such as a furnishing-like and easily portable play house, greenhouse or similar building up to 2.5 m in height and 5 m² in area and when the coverage area defined in the building code is not exceeded and the detailed plan provisions of the plot do not prohibit it.  

Read more about sheds and structures in the ‘Yard buildings and structures’ guide (PDF in Finnish)

Waste management arrangements have their own ‘Waste management in yards’ guide (PDF in Finnish)    

You will not need a building permit for an outdoor sauna of less than 30 m². However, you must have an appropriate place for construction and enough permitted building area left for the sauna; otherwise you will need a derogation decision.  

The authorities do not supervise sites that do not require a building permit before or during construction. This means that the party undertaking the project is responsible for the health and safety of such a site.   

Special attention must be paid to the fire safety regulations issued for wood-heated saunas and smoke saunas, as well as their potential smoke and odour nuisances.  

As a rule, a sauna located in a detailed plan area must be connected to the water and sewerage network in accordance with the Act on Water Services. In rural areas without a water and sewerage network, a household water treatment system always requires a building permit.  

The sauna must be located in the area specified in the detailed plan and comply with the plan provisions.  In both detailed and city plan areas, an outdoor sauna must be placed at least four metres away from the plot borders, unless otherwise specified in the detailed plan provisions. An outdoor sauna may not be placed in any plot section designated for planting in the detailed plan. 

Further information: Yard buildings and structures (PDF in Finnish) 

Before you start building a fence, check the Helsinki Map Service to see whether the plot is subject to any provisions concerning the construction of fences and whether the area is marked as protected in the local detailed plan.  

If the plot is in an area marked as protected, please contact Building Control Services by submitting an advice request (neuvontapyyntö) in the Lupapiste.fi online permit service (available in Finnish and Swedish). We will assess on a case-by-case basis whether a building permit is needed to build a fence.

See the local detailed plan in the Map Service(Link leads to external service)

Read the instructions on submitting an advice request

When can I build a fence without a building permit?

If the local detailed plan includes provisions concerning the construction of fences, you can build a fence without a building permit as long as you comply with the aforementioned provisions.  

If the local detailed plan does not include provisions concerning the construction of fences, you can build a fence without a building permit as long as the following conditions are met:

• The height of the fence on the boundary facing the street is no more than 1.2 metres.
• The height of the fence is no more than 1.6 metres if it is on the boundary between plots or between a plot and a park or other public area.
• The fence and its foundations are built on the side of your plot.
• The fence fits in with its surroundings.

If the fence does not meet the conditions listed above, you will require a building permit for it.

Read more about applying for a building permit

Does the fence have to be entirely on the side of my plot?

We recommend that you build your fence, including its foundation, on the side of your plot. In this case, you can build it without your neighbour's consent.  

It is advisable to build your fence with removable elements, for example, so that it can also be maintained from your own plot. Alternatively, you can agree with your neighbour that the fence may be serviced on the neighbouring plot if necessary. However, the neighbour is not obligated to allow their plot to be used.  

Building a fence over a boundary line between plots always requires the neighbour’s written consent, as the fence will be shared by both neighbours in such a case. The maintenance of a fence built over the boundary line should also be agreed upon in writing.

Can I build a fence even if the local detailed plan prohibits it?

If the local detailed plan prohibits the construction of a fence, but you consider it necessary to build one, you can apply for a building permit for the construction of a fence. Building Control Services may grant a permit if the deviation from the plan can be considered to be minor.  

Read more about applying for a building permit

Does new construction require the construction of a fence?

When a new building is constructed, the boundary of the plot facing the street must be separated with planted shrubs or by constructing a fence, unless otherwise provided for in the local detailed plan. This requirement may be waived for a justified reason.

As a rule, it is not necessary to apply for a permit if you wish to instal garden paving stones or create plant arrangements in your garden. However, this alteration work may not materially change the yard’s height ratio. If it does, you will need a permit.

Detailed plans assign parts of the plot for buildings and other parts for greenery and you must follow the plan, so please examine it carefully. Some detailed plans go so far as to regulate which trees and plants to plant in the plot’s green areas. The general recommendation is to use plants that are typical for the region. Find more information about typical plants from different eras in Helsinki’s urban plant guide (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service) .

The general recommendation for detached houses is to keep paved or tiled areas to a reasonable size. All garden designs must also take stormwater management into account. Storm water management on plots (PDF, 4 Mt) (in Finnish)

If you wish to add more parking spaces to a plot, you will have to apply for an action permit. Check the local detailed plan governing the area and possible regional planning guidelines before you begin construction.

If you want to build a swimming pool in your yard, use the Lupapiste online permit service’s “Kysy neuvoa (Ask for advice)” to contact Building Control. The project must take into consideration things such as water and sewer pipe connections and plans for possible foundation work.

Construction of a hot tub does not require a permit, but the wood-fired heater and chimney must be located at least four metres away from the border of neighbouring plots. If the hot tub is less than eight metres away from a building, the chimney must extend higher than the lower 

Start your construction project by checking the detailed plan governing the area in which your plot is located. The detailed plan determines what can be built on the plot.

View the relevant local detailed plan on the Helsinki Map Service(Link leads to external service)

Some areas of Helsinki are also subject to regional planning guidelines.

See the Regional planning guidelines.

The City of Helsinki’s building code is a guideline that regulates construction in Helsinki.

The City of Helsinki building code is a key list of regulations on construction that supplements local detailed plans. It stipulates what can be built and renovated without a Building Control permit

City of Helsinki building code

If you cannot find your construction project or you need advice, contact Building Control through the Lupapiste online permit service (available in Finnish and Swedish only).
On Lupapiste, you can receive general advice, make appointments, prepare a permit application and submit documents. Start your project by submitting a request for advice by clicking on “Kysy neuvoa (Ask for advice)”. After you receive a reply, you can make the request for advice into a permit application, if you wish, and continue preparing the application.
Follow these steps: 

1. Log in to Lupapiste (Link leads to external service) and register in the service.
2. Select “Kysy neuvoa” (“Ask for advice”) from the top-right corner.
3. Enter the address or property identifier of the project.
4. Follow the instructions. Select the type of project you wish to begin.
5. Click “Kysy neuvoa” again when you are finished.
6. Write a short description of the project and your questions.

You may need to attach a garden plan to your construction permit application. Ask a permit processing professional if this will be necessary.

A garden plan is needed for new building projects and for renovation and alteration projects where the construction work has an impact on the yard. A garden plan must be made for detached house plots if the garden arrangements are not presented with sufficient detail in the project’s master plan. 

Instruction for preparing a garden plan: Garden plans and the garden alteration work that is subject to permits (PDF, 9 Mt) (in Finnish)

It is permitted to build a geothermal well or other geothermal heat system in Helsinki on a plot you own or are leasing. Construction of such wells in a street or park area is also possible if certain conditions are met.