The revised Construction Act will enter into force on 1 January 2025 and will bring significant changes to the construction and renovation processes. The key objectives of the Act are to streamline construction, promote sustainable development, reduce administrative burdens and accelerate the use of digitalisation in the construction sector.
Although 24 Center is not directly involved in construction projects, we are experts in building services engineering, which plays a key role in both new construction and property maintenance. We also want to actively promote sustainable development and digitalisation in the building services sector.
But what impact will this legislative reform have on building services engineering? How will it affect consumer construction projects and the daily lives of professionals? We take a closer look at these questions and explain how 24 Center is responding to the objectives of the reform in its operations.
Simplifying the building permit process
The revised Building Act brings significant changes, especially for property owners who are planning to carry out alterations or apply for a building permit. The reform will merge existing building permits, building permits for measures and notifications of measures into one single building permit. This change will simplify the permitting process and reduce duplicated bureaucracy, saving time and making it easier to get projects off the ground. This will allow property owners to focus more on the construction project itself and less on administrative complexities.
Dreaming of converting your office space into residential use?
The reformed Building Act makes it easier than ever to convert commercial space into residential use. This supports sustainable development by extending the life cycle of a property and making efficient use of existing space.
Vacant properties are easily exposed to moisture damage and vandalism. Regular use improves the safety of the building and contributes to its maintenance and longevity.
What will no longer require a building permit?
The new Building Act brings relief for buildings of less than 30 square metres, such as sheds, garden sheds and warehouses. These small buildings will no longer require a separate building permit, which will speed up and streamline the construction process. However, on condition that the buildings are not used for residential purposes, which means that their use is limited to storage or leisure facilities, for example.
However, when planning new building projects, it is important to remember that all construction must still be carried out in accordance with existing building and planning regulations. Specific provisions for coastal construction must also be respected. This will ensure responsible construction that respects the environment.
When do I have to apply for a building permit?
As mentioned above: from the consumer's point of view, the new Construction Act will make it easier for small-scale construction projects. However, in certain situations it is still necessary to apply for a building permit.
- Converting a sauna building of less than 30 square metres into holiday or residential use requires a building permit, even if the size of the building does not change. As a guideline, if the building has or is planned to have a fireplace, a permit must always be applied for. For example, converting a sauna building into a holiday home requires a permit process.
- For protected buildings, such as those protected for their historical context, environmental or landscape value, planning permission is always necessary.
- You also need to apply for a building permit when you make energy-efficient repairs, such as replacing insulation or technical systems.
When planning any building project, it's a good idea to check with your local building control office to make sure you have the necessary permits, as every building or renovation project is unique. Converting an office to residential use, renovating a cottage or changing the use of a lakeside sauna requires a careful permitting process to ensure that the project goes smoothly, is legal and safe.
Reform of the law will streamline the authorisation process and emphasise the competence of professionals
The law reform aims to harmonise practices and reduce overlaps, supported by digitalisation, which will harmonise practices. In the future, all building permit documentation will be stored in the Built Environment Information System maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute. The application for a building permit will require plans in the form of computer models or machine readable plans. The reform will speed up permit processing and improve the availability of information.
In addition, the reformed law puts more emphasis on the competence of professionals. Designers and supervisors working on construction sites will have to prove their competence in order to carry out their responsible tasks safely and properly.
24 Center takes the updated Construction Act into account in its activities
In Finland, the age of buildings is increasing, and from a sustainable development perspective, it is increasingly important that building and renovation work is carried out carefully and in advance. The revised Building Act brings new requirements and opportunities, and in the future the impact of climate change and sustainability issues will be even more important in renovation work.
24 Center will focus in particular on digitalisation, which offers significant opportunities to achieve the objectives of the reformed Building Act. It is a recognised fact that the real estate sector processes large amounts of data, and the potential of AI, for example, can help us make renovation more sustainable and efficient. In this way, we will improve the smoothness of building services repair and installation processes, provide better service to our customers and support the achievement of environmental objectives.
How does the new building law affect you? Contact our experts - together we can ensure a smooth and sustainable future for construction.
Want to learn more? The Association of Local and Regional Authorities has compiled a comprehensive and clear handbook containing all the essential details of the new Building Act. This guide is a comprehensive and comprehensive guide to all the information on the new building law. is an excellent resource for both professionals and property owners who want to understand how the law affects their projects.
