Estonia - Building Permits

Building – construction works, which is permanently attached to the ground, has a roof, envelope structure and interior space.

Building permit – the consent granted by a local government for:

• the erection of a construction works, and of civil engineering works necessary to service the construction works, on the land unit specified in the building permit,
• the expansion of the construction works or a part thereof specified in the building permit,
• the reconstruction of the construction works or a part thereof specified in the building permit,
• the demolition of the construction works or a part thereof specified in the building permit.

A building permit becomes invalid if building is not commenced within two years as of the date of issue of the building permit.

Civil engineering works – constructions which are not classified under buildings: railways, roads, bridges, etc.

Construction completed – the agreement on the part of a local government that a completed construction works or a part thereof conforms to the requirements prescribed for such construction works and that it may be used for the intended purpose.

Construction started – owners statement to a local government for actual start of the construction works.

Dwelling – a one-family house, section of a two-family or a terraced house, or a flat, which consists of one or more rooms, meets sanitary engineering requirements and is suitable for permanent residence.

Floor area of dwellings – total floor area of functionally united rooms (bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, etc.) and secondary rooms (kitchen, hall, bathroom, toilet, pantry, storage room, built-in cupboards, etc.) necessary or suitable for living in.

Non-residential building – a building not intended for permanent residence.

Residential building – a building, of which all or at least half of area is intended for permanent residence (one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling, terraced house or any other multifamily house). Summerhouses, youth hostels, motels, campsites and other buildings which are intended for relaxation and temporary residence are not considered residential buildings.

Data about the building permits and construction completed are based on the data of the Construction Works Register

A building permit issued for the expansion or reconstruction of a construction works also grants the right to modify the utility systems of the construction works.

A building permit issued for the expansion of a construction works also grants the right to reconstruct the construction works.

A building permit is issued for the completed building as a whole. The building permit can also be issued for a part of the building, if it is possible to use it functionally and safely. The building permit issued for a part of the building is valid until the building permit has been issued for the building as a whole. While issuing the building permit for the building, the building permit issued previously for a part of the building and the documents submitted for issuing the building permit are taken into account.

Expect the series to be revised with each update.

Additional information can be found on Statistics Estonia's website.