Draft amendments to Private Roads Act sent out for consultation

The Ministry of Transport and Communications requests comments on the draft government proposal to amend the Private Roads Act. The proposed amendments respond to the needs identified by the authorities and courts applying the act, as well as to feedback from stakeholders. Comments may be submitted until 11 May 2026.

The current Private Roads Act entered into force at the start of 2019. The act clarified the responsibilities related to the construction, maintenance and use of private roads. Based on the feedback from the authorities applying the act and responses to an expost evaluation survey carried out in 2024, the Ministry prepared an assessment memorandum on the amendment needs in spring 2025 and launched a legislative project to update the act.

The proposed amendments concern, among other issues, appeals relating to road charging, the administration of private road maintenance associations, road shareholders' right of access to information, and the placing of public utility infrastructure in road areas.

The key aim of the draft proposal is to improve private road maintenance by simplifying the administration and decision-making of private road maintenance associations. The amendments would also improve traffic safety on private roads and strengthen the protection of road shareholders under the law. More broadly, the aim is to clarify, specify and harmonise certain provisions of the Private Roads Act.

What's next?

Comments may be submitted until 11 May 2026. The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament in summer 2026, and the act is set to enter into force on 1 January 2027.

Inquiries:

Laura Rantanen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 175, [email protected]