Rovaniemi community sauna granted building permit after last year’s eviction

A community sauna in Rovaniemi, evicted from city land last summer, has now secured a building permit, reports Yle.

The Valiosauna association has leased a riverside plot from the city for the summer. The sauna, to be built through volunteer effort, will rise on the banks of the Ounasjoki River, about two kilometres from Rovaniemi’s centre.

Last year, the sauna was constructed without permission and later removed after the city imposed fines. This year, the association obtained both a lease and the necessary building approval.

Riku Alasuutari, chair of Valiosauna ry, said the goal is to have the sauna operational within a week to avoid delays into late July. Official status brings added responsibilities, including the need to install toilets and secure insurance, increasing costs. The association aims to cover expenses through voluntary donations and continues to rely on unpaid labour.

Alasuutari noted that the sauna’s positive reception last summer made the effort worthwhile, fostering a free and open environment for social connection. The association hopes to establish a more permanent presence for the sauna in Rovaniemi. The current lease runs until the end of September, after which the site will be cleared.