A number of Swedish laws and regulations govern protection of heritage and the historic environment. Each one of them impacts the work of the National Heritage Board both domestically and internationally.

The Heritage Conservation Act is the core legislation for preservation of Sweden's historic environment. The act protects place names, ancient remains, archaeological finds, historic buildings, ecclesiastical monuments and the export of specified older artefacts.

County Administrative Boards and the National Heritage Board

Sweden's county administrative boards are responsible for day-to-day enforcement of the Act. But various other agencies enforce the provisions concerning the export of artefacts. In addition to supervising protection of the historic environment and monitoring compliance with the Act in its particular county, each administrative board grants permits, offers advice and disseminates information. An administrative board can also appropriate funds for the preservation of valuable ancient remains, buildings and areas rich in historic monuments. Local and regional museums do most of the practical work when it comes to export issues.

In accordance with the Act, the Heritage Board supervises the preservation of ancient monuments and finds. The Board's mission involves promoting collaboration among people and organizations involved in the effort, as well as studying the impact of social change on the historic environment. The Board also coordinates expertise about the Act itself and has the power to issue certain directives concerning its enforcement.

Environmental Code

Sweden's Environmental Code protects the natural and historic environment, including approximately 1,700 national heritage areas.

The code requires preparation of an environmental impact report during development planning, as well as prior to launching environmentally hazardous operations, pursuing certain subterranean or underwater activities, or starting up specified kinds of production. The report must identify, describe and assess the impact of the projected activities on the natural and historic environment. The administrative boards and the National Environmental Protection Agency play key roles in this regard. Along with local and regional museums, the Heritage Board coordinates expertise about the historic environment.

The Code allows administrative boards and municipalities to establish culture reserves on the same terms as nature reserves. The administrative boards may also appropriate funds. The Heritage Board issues supervisory guidelines concerning culture reserves.

Planning and Building Act

The Planning and Building Act assigns responsibility for historic environment issues to the municipalities. The Act governs the use of land and catchment areas, as well as development of the built environment. Site and building plans are required prior to any significant change to, or encroachment upon, the historic environment.

When granting building permits, a municipality must ensure that structures that are particularly valuable in terms of history, civilization, the environment or art remain undamaged. The municipality is authorized to intervene if a property owner fails to comply with the requirement.

Whether or not a building is particularly valuable, any changes must be made with care so as not to depreciate it.

The National Board of Building, Planning and Housing has key administrative responsibilities, while the Heritage Board coordinates expertise in cooperation with local and regional museums.

Other Laws and Regulations

Preservation of the historic environment is also governed directly by the Road Act, the Forestry Act and the ordinance on state-owned historic buildings, and indirectly by the Railway Act.

Areas rich in historic monuments are protected and preserved by environmental grants linked to the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy. The purpose of environmental grants for the natural and historic environment is to preserve, as well as focus attention on, valuable remains and areas that bear witness to previous land use. The county administrative boards manage these grants.