en-Facade Painting Permits and Supervision

Facade Painting Permits and Supervision

Many people dream of implementing impressive art or advertising in their premises or selected locations in the city. Why not, since mural painting is an innovative and striking way to convey your message or desired emotion? However, these projects often involve official clearances and various practices. Particularly, the execution of larger public paintings requires careful planning and clearance, such as obtaining a building control permit and consulting nearby residents.

The necessary clearances and permits vary greatly depending on the project. Factors include what is being painted, in which city it is being painted, how long the work is intended to last, and how the project is executed. As an example, we can use a brief summary of the City of Helsinki’s guidelines for facade painting.

In Helsinki, building control is responsible for the durability of the cityscape, guiding planning, and issuing building and action permits. According to the Land Use and Building Act, an action permit is required if the painting affects the cityscape or landscape and is displayed for more than two weeks. This applies, for example, to paintings on the walls of housing associations and industrial properties. Some public surfaces, such as underpasses and bridges, do not require a building control permit, but the owner’s permission must always be obtained. A building control permit is also not required for painting walls maintained by the City of Helsinki’s youth services or at youth centers. However, it is advisable to contact building control and ensure whether the painting requires a permit.

Applying for a permit:

The permit applicant is the property owner or manager, such as a housing association. The project must have a professional planner responsible for preparing the plans, supervising the implementation, and aspects related to health, safety, and cleanliness. These are areas in which Funk On professionals specialize.

Applying for an action permit:

Preliminary consultation: The planner books a time with the building control permit handler, who assesses the likelihood of the permit application.
Preparing the application: The action permit is applied for electronically through the Lupapiste service. The application must include:
- - A description of the implementation method and technical details
  - Information about the principal designer and the contractor
  - Main drawings: site plan and elevation drawing with the artwork
  - A photograph of the site and a visual representation of the artwork in its environment
  - Possibly additional materials, such as photos of the broader environment or a description of how the painting considers the cityscape.
Processing: The application is evaluated and processed. The estimated processing time is about three weeks, but more time should be allowed.

If the painting is done on the street or near traffic routes, a separate permit must be obtained from the City of Helsinki’s resident and business services. Work site arrangements must be carried out in a way that ensures the smoothness and safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If the site is in a residential area, neighbors must be consulted before the project. A good practice is, for example, to hold a residents’ evening where anyone interested can come and see the sketches made of the work and ask questions.

Read more about the City of Helsinki’s facade painting guidelines here.

Facade Painting Permits and Supervision

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