Time limits for overall permit-granting procedures
The time limits for overall permit-granting procedures apply to all projects on renewable energy production. The authorities handling the matter must deal with the permit processes and other administrative procedures included in the overall permit-granting procedure within the time limit.
The overall permit-granting procedure covers the permit processes and administrative procedures required for the construction, upgrades, connection to grid and operation of a renewable energy production plant, energy storage facilities co-located with it, and the installations necessary for connecting the plant to electricity, gas, heating or cooling networks.
We will draw up a detailed schedule for the overall permit-granting procedure in cooperation with the project developer and competent authorities. The schedule will include deadlines for submitting applications related to permit procedures and the authorities' time limit for processing the matter.
To carry out a renewable energy project, several different permit processes/permits and administrative procedures may be required, depending on the nature and scale of the project. For more detailed information on the permits required for implementing such projects, see the Manual of procedures for renewable energy projects. See the bottom of this page for a link to the Manual of procedures. Only some of the permit processes for renewable energy projects are included in the overall permit-granting procedure for which a time limit has been set.
All links direct to pages in Finnish.
- Environmental permit (section 27 of the Environmental Protection Act 527/2014)
- Building permit (section 42 of the Construction Act 751/2023)
- Building demolition permit (section 55 of the Construction Act 751/2023)
- Placement permit (section 62 of the Construction Act 751/2023), only in planning requirement matters processed in connection with the building permit procedure
- Derogation (section 57 of the Construction Act 751/2023), only minor derogations handled in connection with a building permit procedure
- Infringement permit (section 11 of the Antiquities Act 295/1963)
- Permit for construction in the Exclusive Economic Zone (section 7 of the Act on the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone 1058/2004)
- Right of exploitation (section 6 of the Act on the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone 1058/2004)
- Water permit (chapter 3, section 2–3 of the Water Act 587/2011)
- Handling and storage permit (section 23 of the Act on the Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemicals and Explosives 390/2005)
- Handling and storage notification (section 24 of the Act on the Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemicals and Explosives 390/2005)
- Derogation from the prohibition of destruction and degradation of a habitat (section 66 of the Nature Conservation Act 9/2023)
- Derogation from provisions on the protection of species (section 83 of the Nature Conservation Act 9/2023)
- Derogation from the protection of aquatic habitats (chapter 2, section 11 of the Water Act 587/2011)
- Permit for an obstacle to air navigation (section 158 of the Aviation Act 864/2014)
- Project permit for the construction of a high-voltage cable (section 14 of the Electricity Market Act 588/2013)
- Building permit (biogas and biomethane pipeline) (section 5 of the Government Decree on the Safe Handling of Natural Gas 551/2009)
- Storage permit for natural gas (also for biogas) (section 9 of the Government Decree on the Safe Handling of Natural Gas 551/2009)
- Granting of rights (chapter 2, sections 12–14 of the Water Act 587/2011), only in matters that concern granting of rights processed in connection with the permit procedure laid down in the Water Act
- Emission permit procedure (chapter 6 of the Emissions Trading Act 1270/2023)
- Expropriation permit procedure (Act on Expropriation Permits in Certain Projects Affecting the Use of the Environment 768/2004), only in matters that concern grid connections of electricity cables and transmission pipes for a renewable energy plant
Project type |
Time limit |
Onshore renewable energy production plants with electricity production capacity of less than 150 kW and upgrades of onshore renewable energy power plants |
1 year (+ 3 months)* |
Renewable energy production plants other than the onshore plants referred to in section 1 above |
2 years (+ 3 months)** |
Offshore renewable energy production plants with electricity production capacity of less than 150 kW and upgrades of offshore renewable energy power plants |
2 years (+ 6 months)** |
Renewable energy production plants other than the offshore plants referred to in section 3 above |
3 years (+ 6 months)** |
* maximum extension of the time limit is three months
** maximum extension of the time limit is six months
Project type |
Time limit |
Onshore renewable energy production plants with electricity production capacity of less than 150 kW and upgrades of onshore renewable energy power plants |
6 months (+ 3 months)* |
Renewable energy production plants other than the onshore plants referred to in section 1 above |
1 year (+ 6 months)* |
Offshore renewable energy production plants with electricity production capacity of less than 150 kW and upgrades of offshore renewable energy power plants |
1 year (+ 6 months)* |
Renewable energy production plants other than the offshore plants referred to in section 3 above |
2 years (+ 6 months)* |
* maximum extension of the time limit is three months
** maximum extension of the time limit is six months
Project type |
Time limit |
Installation of solar power units of up to 11 kW |
1 month |
Installation of solar power units and energy storage facilities co-located with them, apart from than those referred to in section 1 above, in other than existing or future structures primarily intended for the production or storage of solar energy, excluding artificial water surfaces |
3 months |
Heat pumps of less than 50 megawatts, other than geothermal heat pumps |
1 month |
Geothermal heat pumps of less than 50 megawatts |
3 months |
Please note that the time limit does not apply when the equipment is installed in a building or construction
- which is protected under the Act on the Protection of the Built Heritage (498/2010), the Church Act (652/2023) or the Act on the Orthodox Church (985/2006)
- which is subject to a protection order in a local master plan or local detailed plan as referred to in the Land Use and Building Act (132/1999)
- which belongs to a site included in the World Heritage List of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Finnish Treaty Series 19/1987)
- which is located on the site of a protected fixed relic referred to in the Antiquities Act (295/1963).
Calculation of the time limit
The calculation of the time limit begins when the authority processing the matter finds that the first permit application in the overall permit-granting procedure contains sufficient information for processing the matter. The calculation of the time limit ends when the authority handling the matter issues a decision on the last matter of the overall permit-granting procedure. The time limit does not include the period during which the applicant has no pending matters. Planning matters relating to the project are not included in the calculation of the time limit.
The time limit is calculated by the Permits and Supervision Service (in Finnish). The project developer, the authorities handling the matter and the single point of contact can monitor the passing of the time in the Permits and Supervision Service. The single point of contact monitors compliance with the time limits and, if necessary, supports cooperation between the relevant authorities.
Extension of the time limit
An extension of the time limit may be applied for by the project developer for the project, an interested party and the competent authority alike. The authority handling the matter may request an extension of the time limit if it appears that the matter cannot be dealt with within the time limit set for it. The request for an extension of the time limit must be justified.
The time limit may also be extended due to exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances may arise from the specific nature, complexity, scale or location of the project. Unforeseen circumstances may occur during the planning phase of the project, for example ones that make it necessary to complement or expand environmental assessments and/or nature surveys.
The time limit is extended by the time period required for appeals of decisions on permit processes and other administrative approval procedures included in the overall permit granting procedure (request for a review and/or administrative procedure). A precondition for extending the time limit is that the applicant does not have other permit or approval procedures pending at the same time. However, a pending procedure is not an obstacle to extending the time limit if the processing of or decision on the matter depend on the decision on the matter the pending procedure concerns.
The decision on extending the time limit is made by the single point of contact. The project developer and the authorities handling its permit procedures are notified of the extension of the time limit. The decision states the grounds for granting the extension. When the competent authority applies for an extension of the time limit, the decision includes an estimate of when the competent authority will decide on the matter. The time limit may be extended by no more than six months. The schedule of theoverall permit-granting procedure will be updated as necessary. An administrative review may be requested of a decision made by the single point of contact. Provisions on requests for an administrative review are contained in the Administrative Procedure Act. The decision contains instructions for requesting an administrative review.
Suspension of the calculation of the time limit
The calculation of the time limit is suspended when the project developer submits an application to this effect. Suspending the calculation may, for example, be justified in a situation where the project developer needs more time to develop and prepare the project. By decision of the single point of contact, the calculation of the time limit may be temporarily suspended for a period indicated by the project developer. An administrative review may be requested of a decision made by the single point of contact on this matter. If necessary, we will update the schedules for the overall permit-granting procedure.
Lapsing of the time limit calculation
If the project is suspended or cancelled, the project developer may submit a freely worded application concerning the lapsing of the time limit. After receiving the application, the single point of contact will make a decision on allowing the time limit calculation to lapse. The project developer and the authorities handling the permit procedures will be notified of the decision. If the project developer relaunches the project after the calculation of the time limit has lapsed, the calculation of the project's time line will start from the beginning.
Contact information
By email [email protected]
Customer service for environmental affairs
Service form: (link coming)
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +358 295 256 920 (Monday–Friday 9:00–15:00)