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Working on streets and in parks


Do you want to use a street or a park as a work area?

A street, a square or a park can be used as a work area with the city’s approval. Such work may include building work, moving, lifting work, property renovation, snow removal from roofs, film and TV productions or placing a demountable container on the street. Read more in the instructions for using public space as a work area.

Instructions: using public space as a work area


How to apply?

  • Fill out the notification about work in a public area (pdf) and mark "Aluevuokraus" as the type of notification.
  • Compile a temporary traffic arrangement plan as an attachment to the notification – see instructions under Does the work affect traffic?
  • Submit the notification and its attachment(s) and a signed letter of credentials (if needed) by e-mail luvat@hel.fi at least seven days before the planned start date.
  • If you need more time or have completed the work, submit a notification using this form (pdf).


How much does it cost?

  • The lease amount depends on the extent of the area used for the work, the location and the duration of the work. You can find more detailed information on the payment class table (pdf) (in Finnish) and the payment class chart (pdf, 5MB)  (in Finnish) . Read also the payment principles (pdf) (in Finnish).
  • Please note that for long-term work, the area usage fee will be charged until a written notification about the completion of the work has been submitted and the work has been received and approved.


Work instructions 



Good to know

  • At least one person with a valid qualification obtained in street work training must be present at a work site located in a public area. You can find more detailed information about the training on the SKTY website.
  • Notify the supervisor (pdf) of the area of any emergency work immediately or no later than the next weekday by telephone, and submit a notification about work in a public area (pdf) by e-mail luvat@hel.fi.
  • If you are unable to complete the work within two weeks of the end date of the validity of the permit decision or a written request, the City will have the right to complete the work and charge you for the costs.
  • Please note that you may start the work only after receiving a permit and the given terms in the permit are fulfilled.


Contact information

If necessary, you can contact inspectors (pdf) by telephone or by email at luvat@hel.fi.




Is there excavation work included?

If you need to do excavation work on a street, on a pedestrian or cycling lane, on a square or in a park, read in the instructions below, what you need to do before beginning the work .

Instructions: excavation on a street or in a park


How to apply?

  • Start by applying for an up-to-date cable report from the Cable location service.
  • Fill out the notification about work in a public area (pdf). In the notification, name the owner of the property or the owner of the pipe/device/cable as the applicant for the decision.
  • Compile a temporary traffic arrangement plan as an attachment to the notification – see instructions under Does the work affect traffic.
  • If your work area is located in an area significant to traffic (pdf) and the size of the excavation area axceeds 120 square metres, compile a nuisance management plan (pdf) and attach it to the application.
  • Submit the notification and its attachment(s) and a signed letter of credentials (if needed) by e-mail luvat@hel.fi or to the Urban Environment Division's Customer Service at least seven days bofore the planned start date.
  • If you need more time, need to inform about functional status or have completed the work, submit a notification using this form (pdf).

    • Work completion
      The work is considered complete once asphalt surfaces have been asphalted in accordance with the surfacing instructions for excavation work, the seams of the asphalt have been treated with adhesive, green spaces have been restored and the excavated area has been restored overall to its previous state or a better state in accordance with the instructions. The notice of completion must be submitted so that the work can be inspected and the billing stopped.

    • Functional status
      During the winter season from 1 December to 14 May, driving, cycling and pedestrian lanes must be asphalted with temporary asphalt up to the surface, after which a notification of the work being functional can be submitted. Rock dust or fine crushed aggregate can be used on pedestrian lanes and other areas as long as this is agreed upon in advance with an inspector. The functional status stops billing during the aforementioned period. If temporary surfacing is not carried out and a notification on the status of the work being functional is not submitted, billing will continue until the instructions are followed. Final surfacing corresponding to the street class must be carried out by 14 May or billing will continue on 15 May until the work has been received in an approved manner.




Before beginning the work

  • Agree on work that affects public transport in advance with Helsinki Region Transport (infra@hsl.fi) and disclose the arrangements agreed upon in the plan. Be sure to also read Helsinki Region Transport's own instructions.
  • Report any work in rail areas or in the vicinity of overhead tram contact lines to Helsinki City Transport.
  • Report the closing of any streets to the Rescue Department: tilannekeskus@hel.fi, tel. 09 310 30150.
  • If the work affects traffic lights, contact the Helsinki Region Traffic Management Centre: liikenteenhallintakeskus@hel.fi, tel. 09 310 37555.
  • If you place cables, devices or structures in the City’s public areas, either underground or in the visible environment, you must make a placement agreement (see under Do you plan to place permanent structures in a street or a park?)
  • If you carry our work that causes particularly disruptive noise or vibration, you must submit a notification to the Environment services.


How much does it cost? 

  • The fees charged for work carried out in streets and public areas depend on factors such as the location of the area and the duration of the work. You can find more detailed information in the payment class table (pdf) (in Finnish) and the payment class chart (pdf, 5MB) (in Finnish).  Read also the payment principles (pdf) (in Finnish).
  • Please note that the area usage fee will be charged until a written notification about the completion of the work has been submitted and the work has been received and approved.
  • If you are able to bring your excavation work to a functional condition in the winter work period (1 December–14 May), the usage fee for the area will not be charged for the duration of the winter work period. The usage fee will be charged starting on 15 May if the area has not been received and approved by then.


Work instructions 



Good to know

  • At least one person with a valid qualification obtained in street work training must be present at a work site located in a public area. You can find more detailed information about the training on the SKTY website.
  • Notify the supervisor (pdf) of the area of any emergency work immediately or no later than the next weekday by telephone, and submit a notification about work in a public area (pdf) by e-mail (luvat@hel.fi) or bring it to the Urban Environment Division's Customer Service.
  • The City may require the permit holder to have quality assurance tests (pdf) (in Finnish) carried out at the location. If the set requirements are not met, the permit holder will be responsible for the costs of the quality assurance tests.
  • Please note that you may start the work only after receiving a permit and the given terms in the permit are fulfilled.


Contact information

If necessary, you can contact inspectors (pdf) by telephone or by e-mail at luvat@hel.fi.




Does the work affect traffic?

Work on a street or in a park that affects pedestrian, cycling or other vehicle traffic requires a temporary traffic arrangements plan. A plan is also required when parking spaces are reserved for other use using signs requesting people to move their parked cars. See below for instructions for temporary traffic arrangements.

Instructions: temporary traffic arrangements


When is a temporary traffic arrangement plan required?

  • A temporary traffic arrangement plan is required,
    • when work affects pedestrian, cycling or motor vehicle traffic arrangements
    • when parking spaces are reserved for other use using signs requesting that people move their parked cars.
  • When applying for a permit for working or carrying out excavation in a street or park area, the plan is attached to the application.


Contents of the plan

  • You can prepare the plan on a base map using image processing software or draw it by hand and scan it. You can also make use standard solution images (pdf) (in Finnish).
  • The plan must indicate
    • the temporary routes for different modes of traffic
    • temporary traffic signs and traffic control devices
    • possible driving speed reductions
    • a description of the site's impact on public transport and changes to public transport stops
    • the impcats of the arrangements on taxi ranks
    • the location and areas of effect on street signs urging vehicle owners to move their parked vehicles
    • other changes that have an impact on permanent traffic arrangements
    • protection and fencing of the work site
    • impact on the arrangements of other work sites (see currently valid permits on a map).
  • Please take accessibility into consideration.
  • Be sure to also take into consideration the following separate instruction for area leasing:


Before starting the work



How much does it cost?

  • A decision on temporary traffic arrangements does not cost anything itself, but the decision that it is based on (such as an excavation work decision, area renting decision or event permit decision) may be subject to a fee.
  • The addressee of the decision is responsible for acquiring or renting the necessary traffic signs.


Work instructions 



Contact information

If encessary, you can contact our inspectors (pdf) by telephone or by e-mail at luvat@hel.fi.




Do you plan to place permanent structures in a street or a park?

When planning to place permanent structures in a street, market square or park area, you must apply for the landowner’s permission for the structure. The City’s permit for such structures in public areas is called a placement agreement. See below for instructions on how to get the permit.

Instructions: placing permanent structures in a street or a park


When do you need a placement agreement?

  • A placement agreement is required when a structure, pipe, cable, well or device extends into a public area beyond what is allowed in the building regulation (pdf) (in Finnish). Structures that require a placement agreement include but are not limited to:
    • property cable connections built in street areas when the length of the cable exceeds 20 m or there are wells in the connection
    • property cable connections built in park areas when the length of the cable exceeds 10 m or there are wells in the connection
    • property access routes when the pathway is built through a green area or there are structures related to it
    • underground facilities, such as tunnel connections and service corridors, if their location affects the use of a public area
    • structures and devices related to underground facilities and extending above ground
    • underground structures in general, such as building foundations, planking and cover plates and permanent ground and rock anchors
    • fences, support walls, berms, reinforcement earth walls or landscaping
    • building parts, such as canopies, gutters, bay windows, balconies, entrance ramps or platforms
    • storm water management and absorption into a public area.
  • Permitted pipes or cables to be renovated do not require a new placement agreement if the new structure replaces the old one and the location remains the same.


How to apply?



How much does it cost?

  • Structure placements prices are determined in accordance with the price list (pdf) (in Finnish).
  • No fee is charged for pipes or cables and related structures that serve the community.


Good to know

  • Underground structures must be mapped and the information submitted to the City in accordance with the mapping instructions (pdf) (in Finnish).
  • Familiarise yourself with the planning instructions (pdf) (in Finnish) for structures to be built under public areas.
  • In leased areas, you need the lease holder's permission.
  • The agreement is made with the owner or holder of the property or structure. A letter of credentials may be used.
  • When applying for a permit to place private electrical cables in an area subject to a detailed plan, the applicant must attach a statement from Helen Oy to the placement agreement application.
  • If the structure in question requires excavation work, you need to fill out a notification about work in a public area. Read more under Is there excavation work included.


Contact information

If necessary, you can send an e-mail to alueidenkaytto@hel.fi or call 09 310 22111 (Urban Environment Division's Customer Service).




20.09.2022 13:03