Supervision of the Built Environment

Matters that belong to the Continuous Supervision include for example:

• unlawful building
• unlawful changing of purpose of use
• dilapidated buildings
• neglected building environments
• unlawful tree-cutting
• unlawful landscaping (land filling and digging)

An Action Request can be made to the Building Supervision Authority concerning all matters within the Continuous Supervision.

The following matters are examples that do not belong to the Continuous Supervision: littering (reporting done to Environmental Protection), and noise complaints and other disturbing behaviour (reporting done to the Police Authority).

Filing an Action Request

The Action Request has to be made in writing and it has to be signed and dated. In the Action Request it has to be mentioned what/which matter(s) violate(s) the request filer's interest or rights, or in other ways are not fulfilling the Land Use or Building Acts. More information can be inquired from the specific district's inspection engineer through Building Supervision.

The Action Request is done using the specific form meant for this purpose.

The Action Request's handling process

When an action request is submitted to the authorities, it is entered into the register and therefore generally becomes a public document. This means that everyone has the right to access information contained in the document.

A decision is made once both parties have been heard in the matter and any other necessary investigations have been obtained. The decision is communicated to both parties. The parties in a dispute have the right to request rectification of a decision made by the authority from the Building and Permit Committee. Decisions by the Building and Permit Committee may be appealed to the Turku Administrative Court.

Penalty Fine

If the issued order is not complied with within the prescribed time limit, a penalty fine as permitted under the Land Use and Building Act may be imposed as an enforcement measure. The decision to impose a penalty fine is made by the Building Committee, and before the decision is made, the party concerned is given the opportunity to submit their views on the matter in writing.