"How much does it cost?" is the first question we are asked, and the honest answer is: there is no single figure. A sauna of the same size can cost a couple of hundred euros on one property and several thousand on another – the difference comes not from the building but from how many documents already exist.
In this guide we break the cost down into parts so you can work out your own situation and know what you are paying for in a quote.
State fees: the smallest part of the bill
| Procedure | State fee |
|---|---|
| Building notice | none |
| Notice of use (kasutusteatis) | none |
| Permit of use – dwelling | 30 € |
| Permit of use – non-residential building | 60 € |
| Building permit – ancillary building serving a dwelling | 150 € (reduced on 1.08.2026 from the previous 250 euros) |
| Legalising a building | none – the former 500-euro fee was abolished on 1.08.2026 |
If someone tells you that legalising costs 500 euros in state fees, that information is out of date. The fee was abolished in August 2026.
What the cost actually consists of
Tick each line to show whether you already have it or not. That gives you your budget.
| Cost item | When it is needed |
|---|---|
| Geodetic as-built survey | New building, larger extension or when the municipality requires it |
| Measured survey design or as-built drawings | If there is no design, it has been lost or the building differs from it |
| Building audit | When legalising and when construction-stage documents are missing |
| Electrical installation audit or electrician's certificate of conformity | Almost always with a notice of use |
| Chimney sweep's certificate and heating system assessment | If the building has a stove, fireplace or boiler |
| Gas installation audit | If the building has gas heating or a gas cooker |
| Energy performance certificate | If required |
| Water and sewerage documents, water analysis | Borehole well, on-site treatment plant or holding tank |
| Firefighting water point | In rural areas, if there is no compliant firefighting water point within 200 m |
| Fixing defects | If the audit finds something that has to be put right |
| State fee | For a permit of use |
| Contingency reserve | Allow 10–20% of the total budget |
Three typical situations
1. All documents exist, only the permit of use is missing
The cheapest case. In essence you only need to gather the existing papers, prepare the application and submit it. The state fee and your own time – nothing more. There is no point paying anyone here if you are willing to spend a couple of evenings on the EHR.
2. Built with a permit, but some documents are lost
The middle case. Add gathering evidence, often an as-built survey and one or two audits. The cost comes mainly from the specialist audits and the survey, not the paperwork.
3. An old building that is not in the register
The case with the widest price range. If the building was built before 22 July 1995, it is lawful from 1 August 2026 and you mainly need to prove when it was built and order measured drawings. If, however, it was built later without a permit, a building audit plus specialist audits is added – and that is where most of the cost arises. See which situation your building falls into.
Where you can really save
- Ask the municipality for a list before you order anything. The most expensive mistake is ordering an audit nobody asked for. A written reply from the municipality costs nothing and saves hundreds of euros.
- Order the survey, audit and energy certificate in a coordinated way. When the data comes from one source, it is consistent and there are fewer cross-checking errors.
- Do the paperwork yourself. Filling in the EHR and writing a cover letter need no special qualification – they take time, not skill.
- Collect evidence before you call in a specialist. Old photos, invoices and plans reduce what the audit has to prove.
- Don't let it drag on. A sale or loan deadline pushes the price up – rush work always costs more.
What gets expensive and why
| Situation | Why it raises the price |
|---|---|
| There is no evidence at all about concealed structures | Opening-up work may be needed – taking one spot apart to show what is inside |
| The building conflicts with the current spatial plan | Applying for design conditions or amending the plan is added, and the outcome is not guaranteed |
| The distance between buildings is under 8 metres | A fire separation solution is needed – the neighbour's consent does not replace the fire safety requirement |
| In a rural area there is no firefighting water point | A dry hydrant or tank is a separate building design and construction job |
| The electrical installation is old and the installer unknown | There is no one to get a certificate of conformity from, so an audit with test reports is needed |
How to ask for quotes so you can compare them
- 1.Describe the situation the same way to everyone: building type, approximate floor area, year built, location, which documents exist and which are missing.
- 2.Ask for the price line by line, not as one sum. That way you see what is included where.
- 3.Ask directly: what is not included in the price? This answer is usually the most informative.
- 4.Ask who does the third-party work and whether it goes through the provider or you order it yourself.
- 5.Ask for the timeline and what happens if the municipality requests additional documents – is that included in the price.
When it is worth doing it yourself
The honest answer: more often than people think. The paperwork itself needs no special qualification – it needs time and accuracy. If you have the building's details, a little patience and are prepared to correspond with the municipality, you can do much of the work yourself.
A specialist is needed where a qualification is required: measured survey design, building audit, electrical and gas audits, energy performance certificate. You cannot and may not do these yourself.
Everything else – filling in the EHR, cover letters, consents, putting the documents together and dealing with the municipality – you can do yourself. That is exactly what our kits are for: ready-made templates and a checklist to follow.
Back to all guides, or see the ready-made document kits and personal services.