Short answer. Denmark regulates shelters built into buildings (sikringsrum) under the Shelter Act, LBK nr. 732 of 2003, last amended by Act no. 135 of 27 January 2026, in force since 1 February 2026 12. The building owner builds, maintains and prepares the room and pays for it 2. No official guidance was found on permits for a voluntary private bunker that an individual builds outside these rules 1234.
Which law governs shelters in Denmark?
Bekendtgørelse af lov om beskyttelsesrum (LBK nr. 732 af 20/08/2003), the consolidated Shelter Act 1. It was amended by Act no. 634 of 8 June 2016 and by Act no. 135 of 27 January 2026, which strengthened powers and supervision in the shelter field and took effect on 1 February 2026 12.
Who decides whether a new building must have a shelter?
Since 1 February 2026, the minister, not the municipality, may set rules requiring sikringsrum in new buildings (§ 4(1), as amended) 2. Those rules may allow owners to pay into a municipal shelter fund instead of building 2. Municipalities that had issued orders under the former § 4(1) must report them to the Agency for Societal Security by 1 July 2026 2.
What must the owner of a sikringsrum do?
The Act, as amended in 2026, sets these duties and rules 123:
- Build, maintain and prepare it, and pay for it. "Ejeren af en bygning eller et anlæg, hvori der opføres sikringsrum, varetager opførelse, vedligeholdelse og klargøring af sikringsrum til beskyttelsesrum og afholder udgifterne hertil" (§ 12(1)) 2.
- Keep it ready to be prepared within a notice period set by the minister (§ 6(2) and § 8 a) 2.
- Peacetime use is allowed, for example as a bicycle cellar, storage or rehearsal room, as long as it does not reduce the room's usefulness as a shelter 3.
- Accept supervision. The municipality supervises compliance and may demand information from owners and inspect sikringsrum without a court order (§ 15(2), added in 2026) 2.
Can a sikringsrum be removed?
Only with municipal approval. In special cases the municipality may approve removal without a replacement (§ 20(2)) and must then notify the Agency for Societal Security (§ 20(3), added in 2026) 12. A building with a sikringsrum may lawfully be demolished 3.
Do I need a permit to build a private bunker at home?
No official page was found on permits or declarations for a household building its own bunker outside the Shelter Act 1234. Denmark publishes no official guide for a voluntary home bunker. That does not mean such work is free of rules: earthworks or a buried structure may fall under ordinary building rules, which are outside the scope of this page. Ask your municipality before any work, and have any structure designed by a qualified engineer.
Phaenyx does not give construction instructions. The guides on /guides/buried-container, /guides/reinforce-container, /guides/shelter-ventilation, /guides/nbc-filtration and /guides/protection-factor explain the questions an engineer will have to address. The official Danish technical rules are summarised on the shelter standards page.
Do I need a private shelter if public shelters exist?
Denmark counts just over 3.6 million shelter places across all types, but most are used for other purposes in peacetime and are not ready for immediate use 4. Start by asking your municipality where your nearest shelter is; see the public shelters page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to build a bunker in my garden in Denmark?
No official guidance on permits for a voluntary private bunker was found 1234. Ask your municipality about ordinary building rules and work with an engineer.
Can I use the sikringsrum in my building as a storeroom?
Yes, peacetime use such as storage, a bicycle cellar or a rehearsal room is allowed if it does not reduce the room's usefulness as a shelter 3.
Can I use BRS 09/2003 to design my own shelter?
It is a public document on fitting out sikringsrum 5. Applying it is engineering work for a qualified professional.
Who pays for a sikringsrum?
The building owner bears the costs of construction, maintenance and preparation (§ 12(1)) 2.
Can the municipality inspect my shelter?
Yes. Since 1 February 2026, it may demand information and inspect sikringsrum without a court order (§ 15(2)) 2.
Sources
- Retsinformation — Bekendtgørelse af lov om beskyttelsesrum (LBK nr. 732 af 20/08/2003) — https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2003/732 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Retsinformation — Lov om ændring af lov om beskyttelsesrum og CER-loven (Styrkede beføjelser og tilsynsforanstaltninger på beskyttelsesrumsområdet m.v.), lov nr. 135 af 27/01/2026 — https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2026/135 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed — FAQ – Beskyttelsesrum — https://samsik.dk/beskyttelsesrum/faq-beskyttelsesrum/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed — Beskyttelsesrum — https://samsik.dk/beskyttelsesrum/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Beredskabsstyrelsen (hosted by Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed) — Reglement for indretning af sikringsrum og murgennembrydninger (BRS 09/2003) — https://samsik.dk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/reglement-for_indretning_af_sikringsrum_og_murgennem-brydninger-.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Denmark, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Retsinformation · Bekendtgørelse af lov om beskyttelsesrum (LBK nr. 732 af 20/08/2003) checked 2026-10-20
- Retsinformation · Lov om ændring af lov om beskyttelsesrum og CER-loven (Styrkede beføjelser og tilsynsforanstaltninger på beskyttelsesrumsområdet m.v.), lov nr. 135 af 27/01/2026 checked 2026-10-20
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed · FAQ – Beskyttelsesrum checked 2026-10-20
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed · Beskyttelsesrum checked 2026-10-20
- Beredskabsstyrelsen (hosted by Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed) · Reglement for indretning af sikringsrum og murgennembrydninger (BRS 09/2003) checked 2026-10-20