Exploring the sociocultural dimensions of building permitting in nordic municipalities: an activity theory approach

Building permitting is a critical regulatory interface between political ambitions, legal frameworks, and construction practice. While research has largely focused on digitalization and automation, little is known about how municipal officers actually process permits and navigate the tensions embedded in their work. This paper investigates building permit administration through the lens of Cultural-historical Activity Theory (CHAT), drawing on qualitative expert interviews with municipal plan reviewers in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. The analysis identifies systemic contradictions across tools, rules, and community relations, manifesting as dilemmas, conflicts, and double binds in daily practice. These contradictions highlight the influence of discretionary judgment, political sentiment, and fragmented digital infrastructures on permitting efficiency and consistency. The findings contribute by reframing permitting not merely as a technical or procedural task but as a socio-technical system that shapes project lead times, coordination costs, and regulatory risk. For policymakers, municipal managers, and industry stakeholders, the study highlights how contradictions in tools, rules, and organizational arrangements condition the predictability and efficiency of construction projects, and points to design principles for more transparent, adaptive, and reliable permitting systems.