Frequently asked questions about the upkeep

A tree in the city casts shadows and makes a mess. Can the city cut it down or can I cut it down? 

• Citizens are not allowed to cut down trees in the city themselves, the decision must be made by city employees on the cutting down and storage. Possible cutting downs are taken care of by the contractor in charge of the region’s upkeep. 

• Wishes for cutting down trees are considered in the Spring and Fall. The inspection considers the tree’s condition, tree density, and possible harm the tree causes for structures.

• Cast shadows and messes are not adequate grounds for cutting down a tree. Especially long-lasting trees such as pines which are to be preserved. 

• Please send your wishes for cutting down trees via Oulu’s feedback service.

• Non-urgent cutting downs are often handled in larger batches due to costs 

• Please ensure that your yard is within your plot boundary. Cutting down wishes are considered when the yard structures and vegetation is outside the plot boundary. 

• Trees that are near housing units are not cut down based on the wish of a single resident. The wish is to be processed in the unit's resident board meeting and a copy of the meeting minutes must be attached in the feedback or sent to the e-mail address palaute.puistot@ouka.fi. Trees are important to residents in many ways. We try to ensure that residents are heard when it comes to cutting down wishes and that the residents are agreed.

The city has cut down a tree by my plot. Will the city remove the tree stump? 

• If the felled tree is on constructed greenspace, the stump will be molded, and the grass is mended. Tree stumps are not removed in forests.  

The city cut down a tree by my plot. May I take it and use it as firewood? 

• Stumps are not sold or given to be firewood. The trees will be delivered to the city's own needs. Sometimes felled trees are left to decompose as snags.

There are harmful / decrepit trees on my plot. May I cut them down or will the city help me? 

• Within city planned areas it is not allowed to cut down trees without construction supervisor’s permission. 

  • After receiving permission, the resident may cut the tree down themselves or have it cut down at their own expense. The possibility of cutting the tree down can be asked from the regional upkeep contractor. 

My neighbor’s trees are bothering me. Can the city ask my neighbor to cut a tree down or remove harmful branches or bushes? 

• The city does not intervene in disputes between neighbors. The matter should be discussed appropriately with the neighbor. According to the Neighborly Relations Act, you are allowed to remove roots and branches reaching into your plot from your neighbor’s plot only if you can prove that they cause tangible harm, and the owner has not removed them in due time despite your requests 

Why are the surroundings of city hall cared for daily, but my region is visited only once in a while? 

• The intensity of upkeep of greenspaces is based on national upkeep rating (RAMS). The park by the city hall has been categorized as R1. The park is a representation park which is a valuable part of Oulu's cultural heritage. The city centre parks require intensive upkeep due to intense use and wear as well as for cityscape reasons.

• The upkeep rating is determined by the space's use and significance in the cityscape. Parks in urban areas are mostly constructed greenspaces (R). These are:

  • Activity greenspaces R2; greenspaces reserved for play and exercise, also dog parks

  • Use greenspaces R3; greenspaces reserved for spending time, enjoyment and recreation

  • Protected greenspaces R4

• Constructed greenspaces in residential areas are upkept regularly. The care of grass patches along local roads is handled by the plot owner or occupier according to legislation. Further information on upkeep responsibilities here. The upkeep rating is visible on the map.

Why does the city no longer upkeep the grass patches between streets and plots, even though the city used to? 

• Greenspaces within plots along local roads must be taken care of by the owner or occupier when the greenspace reaches outside the plot for 3 meters according to legislation 

• The greenspaces that reach further than 3 meters from the plots and greenspaces along local roads by the city’s parks and forests are taken care of by the regional contractor. Care of trees and bushes along local roads is taken care of by the regional contractor. 

• When new greenspaces are constructed along new residential streets, the construction contractor upkeeps them for two years. After that, the responsibility shifts to regional contractors.

I am unsatisfied with the quality of the city’s upkeep. May I care for the greenspace by my plot myself? 

• The residents may mow grass and keep park areas if they wish.
• Growing grass, plantation, building structures, and takeover of areas outside your plot of land as well as storage of possessions outside the plot is not permitted. 
• Some greenspaces are meadows that are mowed once or twice per growing season. The greenspaces are important bearers of biodiversity. Residents may tidy up bushes and fences from the city's side if they wish.

I have raked leaves on the city’s land. Will the city collect the pile of leaves? 

• The plot owner or occupier has the duty to keep the street clean from the plot to the road according to legislation 

• The sanitation includes care of grass patches and ditches, mowing grass 3 meters from the plot boundary, and disposal of trash and plant debris. The regional contractor sweeps the local street grass patches within one meter from the concrete road once in four years.  

• Independent raking and leaf pile disposal should be discussed with the regional contractor before doing the work 
  Contractor contact information

Tree or bush branches are blocking traffic lights or signs. Can the city remove the obstruction? 

• Harmful branches and obstructions should be reported to Oulu’s feedback service

There are not enough waste bins. Why doesn’t the city bring more? 

• There are nearly 2 500 waste bins in Oulu’s greenspaces. The adequacy is reviewed annually when there is feedback. 
• To help the placement of waste bins, Oulu has compiled a placement guide. Waste bins are placed on route junctions of constructed streets and greenspaces on top of playgrounds and parks. Waste bins are not installed in areas under the sanitation responsibility of house plots or immediately near benches.

There are not enough dog waste bins. Could there be more? 

• There are not specific dog waste bins in Oulu, dog poop can be put into all waste bins. Additionally, cleanly bagged dog poop can be put into most waste bins of houses and housing units. Green dog stickers indicate that it is allowed to put dog poop into the waste bins. 

Waste bins are full. Why doesn’t the city empty them? 

• According to the contract, the contractor’s must empty waste bins at least once a week in the summer, and at least once in two weeks in winters before they get full. If the waste bin has not been emptied for any reason, please send in feedback via Oulu’s  feedback service

Dogs poop by my plot. May I place a “dogs not allowed” sign? 

• The Public Order Act obligates the dog owner to collect all dog poop in urban areas. Community and Environmental Services places signs only on playgrounds. If the city permitted all “dogs not allowed signs”, the city would be full of such signs. 

Why doesn’t the city collect a dog tax to ensure more funding for sanitation and more dog parks? 

• Collection of dog tax is voluntary for municipalities. City Environment Services cannot decide on a dog tax, the decision is made by the City Council. The city of Oulu gave up the dog tax in the 1990s because the collection cost all its profits. The number of dogs in the dog tax registry is usually much lower than the actual number of dogs and the supervision is expensive.  

The dog park surface is uneven and harmful to my dog / the surface material ruins the dog’s fur

• There are different surface materials in dog parks; grass, wood chip, gravel, and forest surface. Especially forest surfaces are uneven, and pieces of trees and tree stumps can be found there. However, the dog will get to use all their muscles in more uneven and woody areas. Such surfaces are more stimulating for most dog breeds. 

Why aren’t the dog parks divided for big dogs and small dogs? There are no lights, and the fences are too low. 

• Old dog parks are renovated whenever there is funding. During renovations, the parks are divided, lightning is constructed, and higher fences are installed.  
  
  Dog Parks 

When will a dog park be built in my neighborhood? Where Oulu’s dog parks? 

• The Dog Services Development Plan 2014–2039 was finished in 2014 for the city of Oulu. The plan includes the existing dog parks and the planned dog parks as well as the planned construction and renovation schedules.
  
  Dog Parks 

Why is there equipment in playgrounds that the children cannot reach, and the adults have to lift them to reach them? Why is there equipment in playgrounds that are dangerous for children? 

• Equipment for all ages is installed in the playgrounds. The rule of thumb is; if the child cannot reach the piece of equipment, it is meant for older or more developed children. The adult accompanying the child in the playground is primarily responsible for ensuring that the equipment is suitable and safe for their child.  

Why is there no winter maintenance in playgrounds? 

• There are strict safety regulations for outdoor playgrounds in Europe. In Finland, it is not possible to ensure adequate safety in playgrounds in the winters; the safety surfaces, stairs, and equipment are slippery and unsafe when frozen and covered in snow. Snow and ice that piles on the ground and on the equipment makes otherwise safe gaps between parts dangerous and increase the risk of getting stuck. Plowing snow, removing ice, and gritting wears out and breaks equipment and synthetic safety surfaces.  

Why have trees and bushes been planted in sledding hills?

• Vegetation is used to guide the sledding away from dangerous areas, such as equipment or other fixed structures and busy routes of traffic. The hills are not meant to be sledded in any direction, but a safe direction must be chosen together with the guardian.  

Why are playgrounds being dismantled? 

• The number and density of playgrounds in Oulu is primarily based on the population of regions. The principle is that there is one playground for every 1250 citizens. Additionally, there should be about 200-250 children per playground within walking distance (500-1000 m).
• Though old playgrounds are dismantled, 2-3 new playgrounds are built each year, and 5-6 old playgrounds are renovated each year according to budget. More on playgrounds.

When will the nearest playground be built or renovated? 

• The planned construction and renovation schedules can be found in Oulu’s Playground Development Plan 

• The schedule might change depending on the budget 

Can more equipment be installed in the nearest playground? 

• The playground hierarchy determines the area and equipment 

  • In play areas, there will primarily only be basic equipment 

  • Additionally, there can be a few pieces of additional equipment for versatility 

  • The central playgrounds are wide, multifunctional spaces 

• Structural changes to playgrounds are made only when renovated 

The nearest playground is being renovated. Where will the old equipment go? Can I have them? 

• The usable parts of equipment are collected for spare parts and are utilized in renovation and maintenance of other playgrounds within the city. What is unusable is recycled appropriately and taken to Rusko waste treatment centre. The equipment and their parts are not given or sold for personal use.  

Who should I inform about broken equipment? 

• If you discover faulty or lacking equipment in playgrounds, please contact the contractor responsible for the playground (their contact information can be found on the info plaque at the playground) or send feedback to Oulu’s feedback service.

The grass patch along a local street is muddy because my neighbor parks their car on it. Can I place rocks on the patch to obstruct parking? 

• Parking on greenspaces is not permitted according to the Off-Road Traffic Act. If parking is allowed in the area, the car must be parked so that all its wheels are on concrete. Stones, fences, or other structures are not allowed to be put in street areas. They obstruct grass mowing in the summers, road maintenance in the winters, and can be harmful to foot traffic. 

My plot is small and narrow. May I push snow over the city’s side? 

• Gathering snow outside your plot is not permitted. Excess snow causes harm to winter maintenance, traffic, and neighbors. It is also harmful to vegetation, grass, and soil. In the Spring, the excess snow causes flooding when it melts. If the snow does not fit on your plot, it must be delivered to snow dump site either in Oritkari or Taskila. 

Unauthorized bird feeding is causing issues in our housing unit. Can the city do anything about it? 

• Bird feeding is only permitted outside housing units in densely built areas in specifically indicated feeding locations where cleaning is taken care of. Housing units may have their own regulations. 

• The city does not install prohibition signs because the feeding would just move to a location where signs have not yet been installed. If the feeding is known, you should discuss the matter appropriately.  

• The feeding party is guilty of crime and the police will take care of it. According to the Waste Act, it is not permitted to, among other things, leave items or substances that can cause uncleanliness, ugliness of landscape, decrease in well-being, danger of getting hurt of humans or animals, or any other danger or harm comparable (prohibition against littering) 

A cable was installed underground last Summer, and the grass is still unrepaired. Who will take care of it? 

• Oulun Infra repairs the remaining traces of excavation work, and the costs are taken care of by the party the excavation permit was granted to, usually during the next summer season (May-October).
• Because there are a lot of renovation targets, it is impossible to know the renovation schedule.
• All harm and damage caused by the excavation are the contractor's responsibility. You may send feedback directly to the contractor or the cable owner about any bad excavation damage, land subsidence or a filled drains.

We are renovating our house/plot, and we must temporarily pass through a park / store items in the park. Is it ok? 

• Public spaces are not permitted to be used without permission. Permission for the use of public spaces must be applied for from Street and Greenery Services. If the area is damaged due to use by the permitted party, the city will repair the damage and the permitted party will handle the costs. More information on public space use permits.

Some lamps in the park are dead. Who should I report them to? 

• Faulty lamps should be reported via the electronic feedback service.

I do metal detecting as a hobby. May I do it in city parks and forests without permission? 

• Digging with small chisels and planting spades is permitted without permission. It is, however, expected that the grass/soil is dug cleanly and is put back in its place after. 

• If the detecting requires more digging or is located on planting spaces, permission from Street and Greenery Services is required. More on excavation permits.

• If the detecting is located in historically significant places, you must contact the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum. 

May I collect wicker from city’s public spaces for crafting purposes? 

• If you are crafting for personal purposes, it is permitted to collect wicker. It is, however, good to inform about it via Oulu’s feedback service.
• If you are crafting for commercial purposes, you must apply for a permit.