Logging permit

Felling trees in a local plan area is always subject to a permit (Construction Act, Section 53). The landscaping permit required for larger tree felling operations is issued by the building inspectorate.

The trees on your property

You can cut down a tree that poses an immediate danger to the environment without a permit. If necessary, you must also be able to prove the dangerousness of the tree afterwards, for example with photographs. Building control can oblige you to plant a new similar tree in place of a tree felled as dangerous.

You can cut down trees from a plot of land or a construction site without a building control permit, if the tree does not pose an immediate danger to the environment, and when all of the following conditions are met:

• The trees are located on the plot you control and you are the owner or renter of the plot. The tenant must make sure that he has the owner's permission for the operation.
• A maximum of five trees will be felled, and trees will remain on the plot even after felling. The situation after felling meets the quantity and location requirements of trees/vegetation specified in the site plan.
• The trees to be felled are located in the interior of the plot, not on the street side.
• There are no conservation regulations regarding trees or the area in the site plan, or the tree has not been protected by a decision made on the basis of the Nature Conservation Act (such are, for example: tree to be preserved, area designation A7s, environment to be preserved, planting obligation).
• The trees are not scenically significant, for example handsome, old individual trees, such as pines or noble hardwoods, groups of trees, tree alleys or the like, the destruction of which would have a substantially impoverishing effect on the environment.
• Neighbor's consent is obtained for felling trees growing on or near the border (a distance of less than one meter).
• There are no holes, boxes or twig nests used by flying squirrels or bats in or near the trees planned to be felled, and nesting birds are not disturbed between April 1 and August 15.
• In housing companies, the felling of trees has been discussed and approved at the general meeting or discussed at the board meeting, and the residents have been informed about the felling of trees.
• Tree removal is a one-time event and not a continuous activity.

If all of the above conditions are not met, a tree felling notification must be submitted. Based on the notification, the building inspector will consider whether the felling operation requires a landscape work permit. You can also fell a tree if it has been presented and approved in the building permit.

Birds' nesting trees must not be felled, and nesting birds must not be disturbed when felling trees between April 1 and August 15. If you are not sure whether you need a permit to fell a tree, contact the building inspectorate.

Cutting down trees that have received a felling permit is the responsibility of the customer. When felling a tree, always make sure that the operation is safe.

The trees on the neighbor's plot

Contact the neighbor and negotiate about cutting down the tree. Cutting down trees is a matter for the property owner, the city of Riihimäki does not take a stand on disagreements. In conflict situations, the Neighborhood Relations Act is followed, which is supervised by a police authority.