What is land improvement?
Land improvement is the creation of a water regime necessary for agriculture and forestry in order to increase the value of land for cultivation through drainage, irrigation, or a combination of both.
Who benefits from land improvement?
Land improvement is necessary primarily for farmers and forest owners, but also for all residents of Estonia. For example:
- Drainage ensures that there is enough land suitable for agriculture to provide food for everyone in Estonia.
- Drainage of forests ensures income for forest owners and also gives berry pickers the opportunity to enjoy forest products.
- Excess water is drained from many residential and industrial areas through the headwaters of land improvement systems.
Tasks of the Land and Spatial Development Board
- Organize supervision of land improvement and land use
- Organize land improvement works on common drainage systems maintained by the state (hereinafter referred to as state drainage systems)
- Organize the preparation and implementation of land improvement plans
- Organize the monitoring of land drainage conditions and the environmental impact of land improvement
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Act as the authorized processor of the register of companies operating in the field of land improvement and the register of land improvement systems.
Land improvement systems
A land improvement system is a set of structures that helps to ensure a suitable soil moisture level in agriculture and forestry in an environmentally friendly manner.
System maintenance
Drainage land is only suitable for agriculture and forestry if the land improvement system is maintained and in working order.
Construction of systems
The construction of a land improvement system involves the establishment of a facility belonging to the land improvement system, the erection of a building, or their reconstruction.
Land improvement associations
From the point of view of land improvement, it is particularly important to keep common drainage channels in good working order. The most rational way to maintain drainage channels in a coordinated and comprehensive manner is through land improvement associations.
Maintenance of state watercourses
State watercourses are large watercourses that serve land improvement systems and are maintained by the state as needed.
Coordination
In order to ensure the functioning of the land improvement system, activities planned on the land improvement system area and its protective zone must be coordinated in advance with the Land and Spatial Development Board.
Land improvement subsidies
In order to ensure the viability of agricultural enterprises and the resilience of the agricultural sector, it is important to have well-functioning infrastructure that takes climate change into account, including land improvement systems. Maintaining and reconstructing these systems is costly, which is why a number of subsidies have been allocated for land improvement works.
Fees and state fees
- A state fee of €20 is payable for reviewing an application for a land improvement system construction permit.
- A state fee of €20 is payable for entering a land improvement association in the register.
- A state fee of €7 is payable for amending or supplementing data entered in the register concerning a land improvement association.
- A state fee of €10 is payable for submitting a business activity report to the register of undertakings operating in the field of land improvement by means other than the customer portal.
- The collection of land improvement construction and renovation projects "Standard Drawings for Land Improvement Structures 2024" has been in use since April 1, 2024.
- The publications "Standard Drawings for Land Improvement Structures 2008," "Standard Drawings for Land Improvement Structures 2013," and "Standard Drawings for Land Improvement Structures 2019" should not be used in design work.
Last updated: 31.10.2025
