Tree felling and landscape work permit

Building control should always be contacted about tree felling on a plot located in a local detailed plan area. Felling trees from a construction site before a building permit is issued may also require a permit.

If you are felling 1–10 trees in a local detailed plan area, report it to the Building Control Authority either by calling the Urban Structure Helpline, tel. 014 569 6000, or by emailing rakennus.valvonta[at]jyvaskyla.fi.

Attach to the email an explanation of why the trees should be allowed to be felled and which trees they are. They can be drawn, for example, on a map extract or a site plan.  After receiving an email, wait for the Building Control Department's response before starting the felling work.

Some of the trees in the local detailed plan area may be protected by the local detailed plan. In addition, animal species protected by the Nature Conservation Act, such as flying squirrels, must be taken into account.

If you are felling more than 10 trees in a local detailed plan area, submit a permit application online in the Jyväskylä e-service. 
 

You can cut down individual trees, when the following conditions are met:

• the trees to be felled are located outside the local detailed plan area  
• the trees to be felled are not subject to protection or other regulations (plans)
• the trees to be felled are not located in an area with special landscape or cultural environment values (e.g. shore areas, landscape areas in plans)

If you are unsure, contact the building control in good time.

A tree that is hazardous to its environment may be felled without a permit. However, it must be possible to prove the danger afterwards, for example with a photograph. The property owner has a duty to monitor the condition of the trees. 
 

First thinnings include, for example, 

• First thinning for forest management purposes and the management of trees younger than that. 
• Felling, where trees are felled only for personal use, for example for firewood or construction wood. Felled trees are not sold or taken into use by the company's own business or agriculture.
• Harvesting of natural, storm, snow, insect damage as defined in the Forest Damage Act in areas other than those with a detailed plan.

You do not need a permit and you don't need to get in touch the building control.

However, remember to take care of the forest use notification to the Finnish Forest Centre. 
 

Felling size up to 2 hectares: 

• You do not need a permit and you don't need to get in touch the building control.
• However, remember to take care of the forest use notification to the Finnish Forest Centre. 

The size of the felling is more than 2 hectares: 

• Contact the building control and find out if you need a permit. You can do this by calling the Urban Structure Helpline, tel. 014 569 6000, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Attach to the email an explanation of why the trees should be allowed to be felled, which trees or area are in question and the size of the area. The felling area can be drawn, for example, on a map extract or a site plan.
• Remember to also take care of the forest use notification to the Finnish Forest Centre. 
   

• Contact the building control and find out the need for a permit. You can do so by calling the Urban Structure Helpline, tel. 014 569 6000 or by email [email protected]. Attach to the email an explanation of why the trees should be allowed to be felled, which trees or area are in question and the size of the area. The felling area can be drawn, for example, on a map extract or a site plan. 
• Remember to also take care of the forest use notification to the Finnish Forest Centre. 
   

The applicant is always the owner or occupant of the property (e.g. the tenant). The permit can be signed/applied for by someone other than the owner if they have a power of attorney. For example, in a housing company, the owner of the apartment cannot apply for a permit themselves, but the application must be made in the name of the company, and the shareholder can only act as an agent of a person authorised by the company and sign the application.

The ownership of the property must be proven if the information is not already in the register of the authorities. Ownership can be proven with a deed of sale, title extract or other similar document. A principal designer must be appointed for the permit application. 
 

• Site plan (presented for the measures for which the permit is being applied for)
• Sectional drawing in the longitudinal and transverse directions (note! only for earthworks)
• Management plan for stormwater during the construction site (note! only for earthworks)  
• Report on the condition of the trees to be felled  
• Neighbour consultations form  
• In addition, any additional reports required by building supervision  
   

Earthworks such as excavation, excavation and filling in the soil basically require a landscape work permit in the local detailed plan area. Earthworks outside the local detailed plan area require a permit if the area's valid plan so stipulates or an action restriction has been imposed on the area for the preparation or amendment of the master plan.  

In case of doubt, contact the building control and find out the need for a permit. You can do this by calling the Urban Structure Helpline, tel. 014 569 6000, or by e-mail at rakennus.valvonta[at]jyvaskyla.fi. Attach to the email a description of the measures to be taken, e.g. preliminary plan.  

A landscape work permit is not required when:  

• the work is a necessary implementation of the valid master plan or local detailed plan  
• the work is in accordance with the granted construction permit  
• the work has a minor impact  
• the work is a necessary preparatory measure for a construction project that is related to the implementation of a legally valid plan  
• the work is in accordance with a legal, approved road or railway plan  

You are extracting soil that requires a permit as referred to in the Soil Resources Act (ask the environmental protection authority for more information)