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    Is urinating in public illegal in Finland?

    What the Public Order Act says and where to find toilets.

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    Short answer

    Yes, in towns and other public places. Section 7 of the Public Order Act prohibits urinating and defecating in a public place in a way that disturbs public order or causes a public health risk. Public order violations are punished with a fixed fine under the Act on violations giving rise to fixed fines.

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    Why

    1. The Public Order Act says urinating and defecating in a public place resulting in a disturbance or a public health risk is prohibited.
    2. The Act states that public order violations are penalised with a fixed fine.
    3. The Act applies to public places such as streets, parks and squares.

    Details

    On hiking trails and in the wilderness, the rules are about leaving no trace. National parks and many trails have dry toilets at huts and campfire sites.

    Tip

    Shopping centres, stations, libraries and museums usually have toilets that visitors can use.

    What may differ

    Big events such as concerts and New Year's Eve usually have extra portable toilets, and the police watch closely for this behaviour then.

    Common misconception

    It is fine to relieve yourself in a city park at night because nobody sees it.

    What actually happens

    The ban applies at all hours in public places in towns, and it can lead to a fixed fine.

    People also ask

    • Are public toilets free in Helsinki?
    • What is the Public Order Act in Finland?
    • What counts as a public place in Finland?

    Sources

    This answer is for reference only. Rules and penalties can change, so check the Finnish authorities before you travel.

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