Article categories: News
Proposal: Changes to stormwater fees at the turn of the year
Published: 12.11.2025
It is proposed to the Urban Environment Board that Vaasa’s stormwater fees be updated from 1 January 2026. The changes aim to make fee payments clearer for residents and to reflect increased costs. The board will meet to make a decision on the matter on 12 November 2025.
On average, stormwater fees will increase by 5–20 per cent, although for some properties the fee may decrease. In future, the fee for detached houses will be €42 regardless of size, compared with the current range of €25–40. From now on, the fee for all semi-detached houses will be €84, compared with the current range of €45–90. The fee for the largest properties will rise to €2,200, compared with the current cap of €2,000.
In the new model, properties will be divided into three categories: detached houses, semi-detached houses, and other properties. This simplifies the current system consisting of seven categories. The definition of property use will be clarified so that the information in the building register takes priority over the detailed plan. The size of the property affects the fee only in the ‘other properties’ category.
The increases are driven by the city’s need to balance its budget and the rising costs of the stormwater system. For example, heavy rainfall and stormwater floods caused by climate change increase the need for system development and maintenance.
The draft fee proposal was on public display from 30 September to 30 October 2025, and no objections were submitted.
Aiming to simplify the system
The current fee has been in effect since 1 January 2022, but it has proved administratively cumbersome. The reform aims to clarify how fees are determined, reduce errors and complaints, streamline billing, and enhance customer service. At the same time, the aim is to ensure that fees more accurately reflect the actual costs of the stormwater system, which ran an average annual deficit of €135,000 between 2019 and 2024.
The stormwater fee is based on the Land Use and Building Act, which allows municipalities to charge properties within the affected area to cover the costs of the stormwater system. The fee is reviewed annually by the Urban Environment Board, and any significant changes are made available for public consultation.