Notification of cleaning contaminated soil

The handling of contaminated soil in Helsinki requires a notification to be submitted to the City's Environmental Services.

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Submit a notification if you plan to excavate or clean contaminated soil. Please submit a notification if you plan to dig or clean contaminated soil and use the soil extracted from the contaminated area in connection with the cleaning or supply it to be utilised elsewhere.

The treatment of contaminated soil may also require an environmental permit. If necessary, you can ask us for advice on whether the notification procedure for the restoration of contaminated soil applies to your project, or whether you need an environmental permit.

Notify the City of Helsinki's Environmental Services no later than 45 days before the start of any work phase that is essential for the clean-up.

You can start work once you have received a decision on your notification. Once 45 days have passed since filing the notification, you may begin the cleaning work at your own risk.

We charge a fee for processing the notification.

  • Map and layout plan marked with the location of the properties to be cleaned as well as locations significant to the processing of the matter
  • Plan map
  • Detailed information regarding the contamination of the soil and groundwater
  • Cleaning plan
  • Environmental monitoring plan for the duration of the cleaning work and/or estimate of monitoring need after the completion of the work
  • Contact details for neighbours of the area to be cleaned
  • Permits regarding the activities and statements from authorities

Processing of the notification and payment

  • If necessary, we may ask for statements regarding the notification from, for example, the landowner or authorities.
  • The head of the Environmental Monitoring unit will make the decision on the notification.
  • Decisions regarding notifications will be announced publicly on the city’s website.
  • Those entitled to make appeals regarding the decision are considered to have received knowledge of the decision on the seventh day from the day the announcement was published.
  • The appeal period is 30 days, and the decision is legally valid after the appeal period if no appeals are filed.

Go to Publications and announcements (In Finnish)

The City of Helsinki will charge a fee in accordance with the rate of the City of Helsinki Environmental Protection Authority for processing the notification. 

Rates of the City of Helsinki Environmental Protection Authority (in Finnish, pdf)

Ask for advice!

For further information and advice, you can contact the soil team in the first instance by email: kymp.maaperavalvonta@hel.fi.

You can also call for urgent matters: see contact details of the soil team.

Please note that the notifications must be sent to the registry’s email address. See instructions for sending a notifications.