Materials in the Building Control Services Archives and requests for materials
You can contact the archives to request materials such as
- decisions on permits for building projects subject to authorisation
- confirmed master drawings
- documents required to establish the compliance of construction work (such as special plans, final inspection reports, summaries of inspection documents and energy certificates updated during the final inspection).
You can also access special plans, such as structural plans and plans for ventilation, water and sewer systems. Structural drawings dating back to 1908 are available on microfilm, as well as water and sewer system plans dating back to 1913, and ventilation system plans dating back to 1965.
You can request the materials by emailing arkisto@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program) and you will receive it free of charge within 14 days.
The request must be specific enough to allow us to find out what the document request is about. In your request, please include the address and property identification number, for example, and explain what materials you need.
We will provide you with the requested material as soon as possible, but no later than within two weeks after receiving your request. An exception to this rule are large requests for material, where the delivery time is 30 days or less.
Read more
- You can visit the customer service of the Building Control Services Archives in person by taking out a queuing number or by booking an appointment.
- You can book an appointment if you wish to examine a large amount of data (e.g. planning officers and researchers).
Book an appointment with the customer service of the Building Control Services Archives using the booking form.(Link leads to external service) The appointment booking form has more detailed instructions on how to make an appointment.
Visiting the customer services gives you access to the paper documents stored at the location, as well as any digital or microfilmed material. The material is made available for viewing, and the customer can browse public documents free of charge.
The customer service area offers the customers an archive terminal where drawings can be viewed free of charge. The drawings can be browsed in electronic format on the archive terminal. The archive terminal contains the same material as the Lupapiste Kauppa shop.
The material available can be extensive and reviewing it will take time. You may need expert help in analysing the data. The archive personnel do not choose or analyse the documents. If necessary, you can bring an expert with you.
Access to a public authority document is free of charge when the information is provided orally, when the document is made available for viewing on the premises of the authority or when the material is sent by e-mail. However, a fee may be charged if retrieving the document causes special costs.
You can buy copies of the archived material or save the material on a USB stick. To order copies, you must fill in an order form at the customer service point.
The customer services of Building Control Services Archives can process small copy orders while you wait. For larger orders, the completion time will be communicated when the order is placed.
Copies and printouts of documents can be subject to a fee corresponding to the cost of producing the copy or printout. The Archives’ fees are determined according to the price list. The Archives accept the most common bank and credit cards.
Printouts and copies
- Non-certified copies: EUR 0.5 per page. First three pages free of charge.
- Certified copies: EUR 1 per page.
Material/information requests
In accordance with the Act on the Openness of Government Activities, information requests are primarily free of charge. According to section 34 of the Act on the Openness of Government Activities, no charge is levied for the provision of access to a public document when the document is sent to the party requesting information via email or when the document is provided for reading and copying at the office of the authority. However, a charge is levied that corresponds to the costs of obtaining the information when access is requested to a document which cannot be specified and found with search functions or the identifying code of the document. Providing a copy or printout of the requested information is also subject to a fee.
As a general rule, information requests must be responded to within two weeks (14 days) of the submission of the request (section 14). Responding means providing access to the requested information.
- Combining information or irregular information work (according to the definition of the Act on the Openness of Government Activities): EUR 70.00 per hour + VAT 25,5%
- Flash drive: EUR 12 or according to purchase price
Housing companies and property owners keep construction drawings. You can also ask the building managers of housing companies for the construction drawings.
Only the property owner is responsible for keeping documents relating to non-authorised construction and alteration work, as well as electrical, heating and gas piping drawings. Electrical and heating system plans have never been submitted to or archived by the Building Control Services.
The City Archives are responsible for the City’s permanently archived document data and for providing an information service related to them. The Helsinki City Archives' archive information system SINETTI has information on the material stored in the City Archives.
Lupapiste Kauppa is an online service where you can purchase digital material available from the City of Helsinki's Building Control Services Archives. You can also buy construction drawings from Lupapiste Kauppa, which will provide you with the material immediately. The Lupapiste Kauppa shop complements the City’s range of services.
The shop does not have any drawings of permits that are classified as confidential under the Act on the Openness of Government Activities. The service also excludes drawings of buildings used by the defence forces, police, and rescue, social welfare, healthcare and education services.
Contact information
Valid for the time being:
– Mon, Thu 12.00-15.00
– Tue-Wed 8.30-12.00
– Fri closed "Customer service only by appointment"
– Sat-Sun closed
training day: Nov. 14, 2025 closed
Urban Environment Division's phone service 09 310 22111 open Mon-Thu 8.30-16.00, Fri 12-15.
arkisto@hel.fi