A person who is dissatisfied with a decision made by the municipal board, a committee, a section, or an authority under them, may request a review of the decision. A review of a decision is requested from the body that made the decision. A request for review can be made if the appellant believes the decision was made unlawfully (on grounds of legality) or if they find the decision inappropriate (on grounds of expediency).

The decision cannot be appealed directly through complaints; instead, a request for review is a mandatory initial step to municipal appeals. A request cannot be made for decisions that only concern preparation or execution. A request for review must be processed without delay.

A request for review may be made by a party, i.e., the person to whom the decision applies or whose right, obligation, or benefit is directly affected by the decision. Even municipal members can make a request for review.

A request for review must be submitted within 14 days from the receipt of the decision. A party is deemed to have received the decision on the seventh day after the letter was sent or upon electronic delivery. A municipal member is considered to have received a decision seven days after the protocol was available in the public data network.

Changes in decisions made by the council or the joint municipal authority's bodies, as well as decisions by the municipal board or a committee following a request for reconsideration, are appealed through municipal appeals to the administrative court. A municipal appeal must be submitted in writing.

Appeals can be made on legal grounds, meaning that:

• the decision was made in an incorrect order,
• the authority that made the decision exceeded its powers, or
• the decision otherwise contravenes the law.

However, municipal appeals cannot be made over decisions that only concern preparation or execution.

Municipal appeals can be submitted by a party, meaning the person affected by the decision or whose right, obligation, or benefit is directly impacted by the decision. Community members also have the right of appeal.

If it concerns a decision resulting from a request for reconsideration, only the person who made the request can seek changes. If the decision has been changed due to the request for reconsideration, other parties and community members may also seek changes through municipal appeals.

Municipal appeals must be submitted within 30 days of receiving the decision. A party is deemed to have received the decision on the seventh day after it was sent by mail, or in the case of electronic delivery. A community member is deemed to have received a decision seven days after the protocol was made available on the public data network.

Appeal Authority

Municipal appeals are submitted to the Vaasa Administrative Court. The appeal document must be submitted to the appeal authority by the last day of the appeal period and during the opening hours of the appeal authority.

The contact information for the Administrative Court is:

Visiting address: Korsholmsesplanaden 43, Vasa
Postal address: PB 204, 65101 Vasa
Email: vaasa.hao[a]oikeus.fi
Phone: 029 65 42611
Fax: 029 56 42760
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8.00 am–4.15 pm

Appeal Document

Appeals must be made in writing. Electronic documents fulfill the requirement for written form. The appeal document is directed to the appeal authority.

The appeal document must specify:

1. the decision for which a change is sought
2. the parts of the decision for which changes are sought and what kind of changes are sought
3. the grounds on which a change is requested

The appeal document must include the appellant's name and home municipality, as well as the postal address, telephone number, and email address through which notifications in the matter can be sent to the appellant. If the appellant's case is presented by their legal representative or attorney, or if someone else has prepared the appeal, the appeal document must also include the name and home municipality of this person.

The appeal document must be signed by the appellant, the legal representative, or the attorney. An electronic document does not need to be supplemented with a signature if it contains information about the sender and there is no reason to doubt the authenticity and integrity of the document.

The following must be attached to the appeal document:
• the decision applicable to the appeal, in original or as an officially certified copy
• a certificate of the date the decision was served or other evidence of when the appeal period began
• the documents that the appellant refers to in support of their claims

An attorney must attach a power of attorney to the appeal document unless the appellant has authorized them orally at the appeal authority or if the electronically submitted document does not include evidence of the attorney's authority. No separate power of attorney is required for an attorney or public legal aid attorney.

Court Fee

The administrative court charges the appellant a court fee for handling the matter. (Act on Fees for Court Services and Certain Judicial Administration Services, § 3)

The municipal authorities make many decisions based on different special laws. The provisions of these special laws regarding appeals vary significantly, and they should be applied over the corresponding provisions in municipal law.

According to special laws, appeals are often sought through administrative complaints instead of municipal appeals. An administrative complaint can be filed if the appellant believes that the decision was made illegally (legality grounds) or if the appellant considers the decision inappropriate (appropriateness grounds).

Many special laws include provisions for a request for reconsideration that precedes appeals. In some cases, a request for reconsideration according to municipal law may also be applicable.

Administrative complaints can only be made by a party, i.e., the person directly affected by the decision or whose rights, obligations, or benefits are directly impacted by the decision. The right to appeal provided by municipal law to municipal members does not apply in special laws.

Administrative complaints must be filed within 30 days from receipt of the decision. A party is considered to have received the decision on the seventh day after the letter was sent or upon electronic delivery. A municipal member is considered to have received a decision seven days after the protocol was available on the public data network.

Further instructions on how to appeal accompany protocols and decisions as an attachment. Special laws may also include prohibitions on appeals.

Appellate Authority

Administrative complaints are filed with the Vaasa Administrative Court. The appeal document must be submitted to the appellate authority no later than the last day of the appeal period and within the opening hours of the appellate authority.

The contact details for the administrative court are:

Visiting address: Korsholmsesplanaden 43, Vasa
Postal address: PB 204, 65101 Vasa
Email address: vaasa.hao[a]oikeus.fi
Phone: 029 65 42611
Fax: 029 56 42760
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 am–4:15 pm

Appeal Document

An appeal must be made in writing. Electronic documents meet the requirement for written form. The appeal document should be addressed to the appellate authority.

The appeal document must specify
1. the decision being appealed
2. the parts of the decision being appealed and the changes sought
3. the grounds on which the appeal is based

The appeal document must include the appellant's name and home municipality and the postal address, telephone number, and email address where notifications regarding the case can be sent to the appellant. If the appellant’s case is brought by their legal representative or counsel or if another person has prepared the appeal, the appeal document must also state this person's name and home municipality.

The appeal document must be signed by the appellant, the legal representative, or the agent. An electronic document does not need a signature if it contains details of the sender and if there is no reason to doubt the document's authenticity and integrity.

The appeal document must be accompanied by
• the decision being appealed, in original or as an officially certified copy
• a certificate of the date the decision was notified or other information on when the appeal period started
• the documents the appellant refers to in support of their claims

A representative must attach a power of attorney to the appeal document unless the appellant has authorized them orally at the appellate authority, or if the electronically submitted document does not contain a statement on the representative's authority. No special power of attorney is required for a lawyer or a public legal aid attorney.

Court Fee

The administrative court charges the appellant a court fee for handling the case (Act on Fees for the Action Taken by Courts and Certain Judicial Administration Authorities, § 3).