Tarkoitusaluetta

Tarkoitusaluetta is a term used in Finnish urban planning to describe a defined geographic area within a land-use plan that is designated for a specific purpose or use. The concept sits within Finland’s planning framework, grounded in the Maankäyttö- ja rakennuslaki (Land Use and Building Act). In planning documents such as the yleiskaava (master plan) and asemakaava (detailed plan), tarkoitusalue indicates the intended use and the associated zoning rules for that area, including permitted building types, densities, and services.

The purpose of tarkoitusaluetta is to guide development decisions, coordinate infrastructure, and ensure compatibility with environmental, social, and economic objectives. It helps planners and developers understand what types of activity are allowed in a given parcel and how it should be developed. A tarkoitusalue does not, by itself, grant development rights; those rights are realized through the plan’s zoning and subsequent permitting processes. Changes to a tarkoitusalue designation require amendment to the plan and follow formal decision procedures.

Creation and modification typically involve the municipal planning department preparing proposals with public consultation, followed by approval from the municipal council. Once approved and legally registered, the plan becomes binding, and land-use decisions must conform to the tarkoitusalue designations.

Examples of tarkoitusalue categories include zones for housing, commercial use, public services, or green space. Etymologically, the term derives from tarkoitus (purpose) and alue (area). See also zoning and land-use planning.