The ban on spoiling
A building that is especially valuable from a historical, cultural-historical, environmental or artistic point of view may not be spoiled (Planning and Building Act, chapter 8, section 13). The ban applies whether or not the detailed plan has a protection provision, and can also cover plots, public places and whole areas.
The duty of care
Every change to a building must be done carefully, respecting its character and its technical, historical, cultural, environmental and artistic values (section 17). This applies to all buildings.
From the law
«En byggnad som är särskilt värdefull från historisk, kulturhistorisk, miljömässig eller konstnärlig synpunkt får inte förvanskas.»
Listed buildings
A building of exceptionally high heritage value can be declared a listed building (byggnadsminne) by the county administrative board (Historic Environment Act, chapter 3, section 1), which sets out how it must be kept and what may not be changed (section 2).
Before buying
Ask the municipality whether the building has protection provisions or is identified as of heritage value, and read the detailed plan. In Stockholm the City Museum has surveyed the inner-city buildings; VERA PI's building pages quote those surveys and the National Heritage Board's building register where they exist.
Laws change. Always check the version in force and consult a lawyer about your own case. The Swedish text of the law is the authoritative one.
Sources
The Planning and Building Act (2010:900) 8 kap. 13 och 17 §§; The Historic Environment Act (1988:950) 3 kap. 1 och 2 §§. Read 21 Oct 2026. The Swedish text of the law is the authoritative one; the quotations are in Swedish.