1. We check what can be built on the plot
Before the first sketch we read the spatial plan and the conditions for your location: how much you may build, how high and how far from the boundaries. The house you have in mind has to fit this particular plot, and its width alone can decide the layout and shape of the house.
We check the ownership records ourselves. If the plot has several owners, the planned building should be agreed with all of them early.
For the first check, send us
- The cadastral parcel number
- The cadastral municipality
- A short description of what you want to build
Proof of legal interest is a digitally signed land register extract, which we obtain ourselves. We also draw up the power of attorney that lets us run the procedure on your behalf, and the owners only need to have it certified by a notary.
2. We talk about what you need and define the offer
In the first meeting you describe the space you want, how you will use it and what matters most to you. Floor plans, photos or examples from the internet are a good starting point but not required. We develop the design with you, from the first sketch.
After the plot check and the meeting we prepare an offer with the design scope and included services. Before work starts we sign a contract and agree the terms.
3. We obtain the survey of the plot
Further design needs a geodetic survey of the plot. We can bring in the surveyor we work with and include the service in our offer, or you can hire your own surveyor.
In most cases we can start designing before the survey arrives and position the house exactly on the plot once we have it. When the plot is small or narrow, so the design sits at the limit of what the spatial plan allows, we wait for the survey before designing.
4. We develop the concept design together
We design the house around your wishes and what the plot allows. Floor plans, sections and 3D views show the room layout, how the floors relate and what the house will look like. We refine the design with you until you approve it.
In our practice the concept design takes about two to three weeks, depending on the changes and the time needed to agree them. That is the time to develop the design, not the total time to a building permit.
5. We obtain the conditions and apply for the permit
Once you approve the design, we obtain the required conditions and prepare the design for the procedure. Which documents go with the application depends on the building category, so we establish it at the very start.
We obtain the connection conditions for electricity, water, drainage and road access ourselves, through the eDozvola system, before the application. The utility has 30 days to set them. If it does not answer in time, the house is deemed connectable, and it may not ask you to build parts of the infrastructure, such as a substation or a water main.
Simpler building
- What it is
- A residential building with at most two flats and up to 400 m² gross floor area
- With the application
- Concept design and proof of legal interest
- Main designs
- Attached to the notice of start of works
Apartment building
- What it is
- A residential building with three or more units
- With the application
- Main designs with the required reports and proof of legal interest
- Main designs
- Completed before the application
6. We prepare the main designs
For simpler buildings we prepare the main designs while the permit procedure runs, based on the approved concept. In this phase we also agree the technical solutions with you: building services, lighting, heating and cooling.
The main designs cover
- 01Architectural design
- 02Structural design
- 03Water supply and drainage design
- 04Electrical design
- 05Mechanical design
On request we also prepare
- Realistic 3D visualisations
- Construction cost estimate for a loan
The exact scope is stated in the offer and the contract.
Common questions about the permit
How long does a building permit take?
We cannot guarantee the time a permit takes. In our experience it varies a lot between towns and counties and depends on the case and the authority. Statutory deadlines are not the same as the total time from the first meeting to the permit, which also includes the survey, design development, conditions and documents.
When can I start building?
Construction starts on the basis of a final building permit. Before works begin, the investor notifies the start electronically at least five days in advance and names the contractor and the supervising engineer. For a simpler building the main designs are attached to that notice. An issued permit is therefore not yet the whole preparation for building.
What is not included in the design fee?
Administrative fees, notary certifications and municipal contributions are paid separately. Surveying is included if the offer says so.
There is an old house on the plot that I want to remove. Does it matter?
Tell us at the start. Documents for the existing building can matter for the design and for calculating the municipal contribution.
What do I receive at the end?
When the contracted work is done we hand over the design documents from the offer: the concept design, the main designs and any extra services you chose, such as visualisations or a cost estimate.