How to make your data center permitting flow smoothly

23.4.2026 – Mikko Reinikainen, Architect and Principal Designer at Granlund explains the art and science behind successfully getting permits for a new data center in Finland.

Themes

Data and digitalisation

Mikko Reinikainen, Architect and Principal Designer at Granlund

The Nordic countries are some of the best places in the world to build data centers, yet companies need to carefully navigate the permitting process. In Finland, a new data center will need to have proper building permits from the local municipality. Potentially, it might also need environmental permits from national agencies or a real estate acquisition permit from the Ministry of Defence for non-EU entities.

“The need for a building permit is based on the current Finnish legislation, the Building Act,“ explains Mikko Reinikainen, Architect and Principal Designer at Granlund.

“The local Building Control Authority grants construction permits. The plans submitted with the permit application must be in accordance with both national laws and local zoning regulations and restrictions. All deviations must be negotiated with the authorities.”

When a company contacts Granlund for a potential data center project, Granlund’s experts provide a clear explanation of the permitting process and any potential challenges that may arise along the way. Granlund’s architects have experience with hundreds of building permits, including exceptionally demanding ones.

Granlund’s architects have experience with hundreds of building permits, including exceptionally demanding ones.

Beginning the permit process

The process generally begins when the principal designer contacts the local Building Control Authority to present the construction project.

“The required preliminary plans and documents are submitted to the authority-managed permitting portal, and these materials are refined during the application process,” Reinikainen says.

Next, the principal designer meets with authorities to discuss the project. Once alignment is reached, detailed plans and documentation are prepared.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA/YVA) might be required for large projects, or those which authorities determine are likely to cause significant environmental impacts. The EIA can be carried out as a separate study alongside the building permit application, which is often standard practice in data center projects.

Close communication with the authorities prior to submitting the permit application can significantly shorten the permit’s processing time.

Managing complexity

In some cases, zoning requirements or EIAs may require adjustments to the original concept of the building. Granlund’s experts work hard to ensure that all requirements and impacts to the schedule are communicated to the client as early as possible.

“The building permit process typically takes 2–3 months, but it can vary from 1 to 6 months,” says Reinikainen. “Close communication with the authorities prior to submitting the permit application can significantly shorten the permit’s processing time.“

There is a 30-days appeal period from the date the decision is issued, as well as a 7-day notification period, meaning in practice a 37-day period. The right of appeal typically belongs to parties directly affected, such as a neighbor who may be impacted by noise, shading or a reduction in property value. Municipalities and supervisory authorities always have the right to appeal, as do environmental, health and nature protection organizations for projects requiring an EIA.

“Appeal risks are reduced by ensuring the correctness of the plans and full compliance with regulations, meaning the avoidance of deviations,” says Reinikainen.

When you are careful and organized with the plans and documents the whole process tends to go smoothly.

Staying on schedule

Scheduling is always a critical concern for data center projects, and international investors are often wary of long delays due to permitting problems. Reinikainen stresses that an experienced specialist such as Granlund can successfully manage the process.

“My personal experience with authorities has always been smooth. Often, the officials are architects themselves, which means we speak the same professional language and understand each other well,” Reinikainen says. “Successful cooperation requires good interpersonal and negotiating skills, and when you are careful and organized with the plans and documents the whole process tends to go smoothly.”