Parking a moving van in Helsinki: rules and street reservations

Why parking matters

The closer the van is to the door, the faster things move. A long carrying distance adds working time, and with it the cost of the move, because every extra metre is walked on every trip. In the inner city, streets are narrow and spaces are scarce, so plan parking before moving day.

Loading is not parking

Under the Road Traffic Act, briefly stopping to load or unload goods is not parking. That is why a moving van may stop to load in a no-parking zone.

Loading for a move can still take hours. If there is no room to wait at the door without disturbing other traffic, reserving street space is the safer option.

Reserving street space in Helsinki

In Helsinki you reserve street space by submitting a notice of work on a public area. The form has a ready work type for moving (“Muutto”), and the notice is sent to luvat@hel.fi. The city has not published a separate processing time for moves, so submit the notice well before moving day.

The cost is a handling fee plus area rent. The rent depends on how central the location is.

• A handling fee of €80 for work lasting under 8 days with no digging
• Area rent of €2–16 per day for each started 15 square metres

City of Helsinki: street work fees from 1 March 2026 (in Finnish)

Example: what does a one-day reservation cost?

A moving van and its loading space typically take up several tens of square metres. The example below assumes a 30 m² area for one day. The area is counted in started 15 m² units, so 30 m² is two units.

Tow-away notice signs

You can put tow-away notice signs on the reserved space if needed, so it is free on moving day. Since March 2025 only the official I13 sign is accepted. Placing the signs requires a decision by the city, and they must be in place at least 48 hours before vehicles are moved.

City of Helsinki: using tow-away notices (in Finnish)

Espoo and Vantaa

In Espoo you apply for a paid permit for temporary traffic arrangements in the eLupapalvelu service. In Vantaa the equivalent permit is applied for in Lupapiste. Check processing times and fees on the city’s website before your move.

City of Espoo: temporary traffic arrangements (in Finnish)

Yards and housing company areas

Agree with the property manager or maintenance company before driving into the yard. Emergency access routes must always be kept clear, and the van must not block a gateway or garage door. Ask at the same time for gate codes and whether the lift must be booked.

Temporary parking bans and winter

A few days before the move, check whether temporary parking bans are coming to the street, for example for street cleaning or snow clearing. In winter, snowbanks narrow the street and take up parking spaces. Read more in our winter moving guide.

Who makes the reservation?

Either the resident or the moving company can reserve street space. Agree on it at the quote stage, so the reservation doesn’t fall between the cracks. Mention in your quote request whether there is room on the street and whether a reservation is needed.

How much space does a moving van need?

A moving van needs space not only for itself but for loading. There must be room behind or beside it to open the doors and carry things safely, and a van with a tail lift also needs space for the lift. That is why a street reservation is often clearly larger than the van itself.

Ask the moving company for the van size and the space needed before you reserve. Then you book an area of the right size and don’t pay for space you don’t need.

Filling in the notice in Helsinki

The notice of work on a public area is a form you send to the city. Have this information ready:

• The address and the spot on the street where the van will park
• The date and times of the reservation
• The size of the area in square metres
• Work type: moving
• The contact and billing details of the person ordering
• Whether tow-away notice signs are needed

Loading at two addresses

Remember that parking must be arranged at both ends. Loading at the old home often takes longer than unloading at the new one, but if the new street has little space, reserve a spot there too. If the addresses are in different cities, permits are applied for in each city’s own service.

Neighbours and other traffic

Tell your neighbours about moving day in advance, especially if you reserve street space or the yard. Always keep driveways, gateways and emergency access routes clear. The van must not block others, and pedestrians must have a safe way past.

Inner city, suburb or house area?

Parking varies a lot by area. In the inner city, streets are narrow, spaces are often for residents, and courtyards are reached only through gateways. A street reservation is often needed there.

In the suburbs, apartment buildings often have room for loading in the yard or parking area, but the walk to the door can be long. In house and terraced-house areas the van can usually get close, as long as there is room to turn.

Check parking at the new home in advance

Visit the new address before the move if you can. Look at the traffic signs, the gateway height, the route into the yard and the distance from the door to the van. Take photos and send them to the moving company. Then the plan is ready before the van arrives.

Trams and busy streets

Many streets in central Helsinki have trams. A moving van must not stop on tram tracks or block trams. On busy streets, time the loading for a quieter part of the day, and a street reservation is often the only way to get the van safely close to the door.

If there’s no space on moving day

Sometimes a reserved spot is taken by another vehicle or there is unexpected work on the street. Agree a backup plan in advance: the nearest legal stopping place and a slightly longer carry is better than an illegal spot. A wrongly parked vehicle can get a parking fine and may be towed.

Gateways and height limits

Gateways in old buildings can be low and narrow. Check the gateway’s height and width before planning to drive into the courtyard, and give the measurements to the moving company. It is often easier to leave the van on the street and carry things through the gateway.

Example: moving out of an old building in Kallio

Imagine a move from a narrow street in Kallio, from the fourth floor without a lift. The street has a no-parking zone, but the spaces are always full, and loading isn’t possible without a reservation.

The plan: the resident sends the city a notice of work on a public area for about 30 square metres for one day. Official tow-away notice signs go up at least 48 hours before. The neighbours are told on the stairwell notice board. The cost is the €80 handling fee plus area rent for two 15 m² units, about €84–112 in total depending on the area’s pricing zone.

A full day or half a day?

Area rent is charged per day, so reserve the whole moving day. Loading time is hard to estimate exactly, and a reservation that is too short may end in the middle of carrying. If the move takes two days, reserve the area for both.

Who pays for the reservation?

The person who files the notice pays for the street reservation. If the moving company handles it, agree in advance whether the cost is in the quote or invoiced separately. That way you avoid surprises on the invoice.

Safety while loading

During loading, keep a safe route for pedestrians past the van and make sure it doesn’t block the view of a crossing or junction. Keep children and pets away from the loading area. A van with a tail lift needs room around it so the lift can be used safely.

Parking in Espoo in practice

Many apartment areas in Espoo, such as Tapiola, Leppävaara and Matinkylä, are spacious, and the van can often get into the yard or parking area. Around the centres and on narrow residential streets, though, space can be tight. If temporary traffic arrangements are needed on the street, the permit is applied for in Espoo’s eLupapalvelu.

Check the yard’s driving route and whether the van can turn. The nearest Sortti stations on the Espoo side are Ämmässuo and Jorvas, if old things go to recycling at the same time.

City of Espoo (in Finnish)

Parking in Vantaa in practice

In Vantaa, for example in Tikkurila and Myyrmäki, apartment yards and parking areas are often close by, but the central streets are busy. Permits for temporary traffic arrangements are applied for in the Lupapiste service. The nearest Sortti station is in Ruskeasanta.

When you move from Helsinki to Vantaa or the other way round, remember that permits are applied for in each city’s own service.

City of Vantaa (in Finnish)

Example: a note to your neighbours

A short notice on the stairwell board or in the building’s group chat reduces annoyance. Include at least these:

• Moving day and approximate times
• Where the van will stand and whether street space is reserved
• Whether the lift is booked during the move
• A contact, in case something causes trouble
• A short apology for any noise

When the moving company handles arrangements

If you agree that the moving company handles parking arrangements, give it everything it needs in good time: exact addresses, door codes, photos of the street and yard, and the housing company’s contact details. Agree too who pays for any street reservation and who will be there to meet the van.

The carrying route from door to van

Besides parking, plan the route your belongings will take. Clear obstacles from the stairwell, keep the front door safely open and make sure there are no slippery spots or thresholds to trip on. If the route has stairs or narrow points, tell the moving company in advance.

Housing company yard rules

Some housing companies restrict driving in the yard or allow only maintenance traffic. Ask the property manager whether the van may drive in and where it can stop. Remember that the van must not stand on an emergency access route, and agree on keys or opening a barrier if needed.

Moving-van parking: frequently asked questions

Short answers:

• Can a moving van stop in a no-parking zone? Yes, briefly, to load.
• Can I load in a no-stopping zone? No, unless an additional sign allows it.
• What does a street reservation cost in Helsinki? A handling fee of €80 plus area rent of €2–16 per day for each started 15 m².
• How early must tow-away notice signs go up? At least 48 hours before vehicles are moved.

Parking in a nutshell

Brief loading is allowed in a no-parking zone, but not where stopping is prohibited. If the street is tight or loading takes long, reserve street space from the city and, if needed, put up tow-away notice signs at least 48 hours before. Check yard access with your housing company, tell your neighbours and give your movers exact parking details. Then the van is close to the door and the move goes quickly.

Ask for help if needed

If parking arrangements seem difficult, describe the situation in your quote request. Photos of the street and yard help the moving company plan the best loading spot and judge whether a street reservation is needed.

Moving-day parking checklist

Go through these a few days before the move:

• Check the traffic signs outside both addresses.
• Estimate the carrying distance from the door to the van.
• Ask your housing company about yard access, gate codes and booking the lift.
• Reserve street space if the street is busy or spaces are scarce.
• Give your movers the parking details and door codes in advance.