Planning permission

Planning permission is needed for building, adding and for some modifications, or to change the whole or parts of the buildings' purpose. In the planning permission review, among other things, the exterior design, placement on the lot and the buildings' purpose are assessed. 

Planning permission is required for:

• constructing or extending a building
• completely or partially changing the buildings' purpose
• furnishing additional flats or premises
• implementing amusement parks, sports grounds, ski slopes with ski lifts, camping grounds, shooting ranges, marina, open-air baths, racing tracks, golf courses, cemeteries, tunnels and rock shelters
• establishing cisterns
• putting up radio- or phone mast and wind turbines
• putting up walls or fences
• organizing parking lots
• making substantial changes on the facilities above

In the detailed development plan/grouped buildings, a planning permission is also required for:

• changing the buildings' colour, changing façade and roofing materials or significant changes to the buildings' purpose
• putting up or significantly changing signs or lightning devices
• putting up, adding or in other ways changing an outbuilding for agricultural, forestry or similar industry

You do not need planning permission, for residences with one or two flats, in order to:

• change the colour, change façade materials or change roofing materials, if the character of the buildings and area is kept
• arrange protected patios with walls or fences within 3,6 m from the residential building, where the height is no more then 1.8 m. It may not be placed closer than 4,5 m from the property border, unless the affected neighbour issues a written approval for a closer placement
• arrange canopies above patio, terrace, balcony and entrances. May not be placed closer than 4,5 m from the property border, unless the affected neighbour issues a written approval for a closer placement. The total area for all canopies on the lot may not exceed 15 m2
• build additional buildings ("friggebod") with a maximum area of 15 m2, in the immediate vicinity of the residential building. Roof height may not be higher than 3.0 m and the building may not be placed closer than 4,5 m from the property border, unless the affected neighbour issues a written approval for a closer placement.

Residences with one or two flats, outside the detailed development plan and which is not part of grouped buildings, do not require planning permission to

• make smaller extensions, if they are not closer than 4,5 m from the property border
• construct additional buildings in the immediate vicinity of the residential building, where walls or fences may not be placed closer than 4,5 m from the property border, unless the affected neighbour issues a written approval for a closer placement.

If you are unsure if your planned action needs planning permission, contact the Planning and Environment office.
Normally, with your application, you need to hand in the following documents to the building committee: 

• The permission application form
• Site plan (scale 1:400 or 1:500).
• Plot map for new buildings (for building within planned area)
• Exterior drawings (scale 1:100)
• Floor plans and section drawings (scale 1:100).
• Additional documents can be requested from the handling officer.

Fee

The fee is calculated through tariffs set by the municipal council.  The value of the fee depends on the area of the building and complexity of the case.

Time

Apply for planning permission in good time before the planned start of construction works. If the documents are not complete when sent in, and additions must be sent in, the case will usually take longer.