Do you need a permit to build a shelter in Estonia?

Short answer. Estonia has no shelter-specific permit. Under the Building Code's Annex 1, a house outbuilding needs nothing up to 20 m² footprint and 5 m height, a building notice from 20 to 60 m², and a building permit above 60 m² or 5 m ¹². Houses with one or two flats have no duty to build a shelter ⁵.

Which procedure applies to a shelter at my house?

The Building Code requires a building notice (ehitusteatis) or a building permit (ehitusluba) in the cases listed in its Annex 1 ¹. The annex has no row for shelters, so a shelter is classed like any other building by footprint (ehitisealune pind) and height ². For a single-flat or two-flat house (codes 11100 and 11210) and the outbuildings that serve it ²:

Altering or extending the house by up to 33% needs nothing below 20 m², a building notice from 20 to 60 m², and a notice with design documentation above that ². The notice goes through the building register at least ten days before work starts ¹. The permit is issued by the local government ¹.

The local government may, with reason, require a notice or a permit for a structure that is not listed in Annex 1 ¹. Phaenyx did not check how the footprint is counted for a structure that is entirely underground, so ask your local government before work.

Which new buildings must include a shelter?

Since 1 October 2026 the Crisis Situation and National Defence Act requires a shelter (varjend) when certain buildings are erected ³:

Government Regulation No. 50 lists the building types ⁴. Its Annex 1 sets no shelter duty for single-flat houses, two-flat houses or terraced houses; apartment buildings with three or more flats are covered from 1,200 m² ⁵. The duty does not apply to a building already built, or whose permit application or notice was filed, before 1 July 2026 ³. Where public shelters are, see the public shelters page.

What about existing buildings?

Owners of qualifying buildings that already have a use permit must draw up a sheltering plan by 1 July 2027 and, where possible, adapt a sheltering place by 1 July 2028 ³. A shelter owner must make it ready within 72 hours of a government decision ³. The Rescue Board (Päästeamet) supervises these duties ³.

Is there a grant?

The state grant for adapting a sheltering place is for apartment associations (korteriühistu) in buildings with three or more flats; the Rescue Board finances it ⁶. Phaenyx found no grant for a private house.

Who designs the shelter?

Any design involving structure, excavation, blast resistance or ventilation is work for a qualified engineer; this page gives no construction instructions. The technical rules for mandatory shelters are in Regulation No. 50; see shelter standards ⁴. For the principles: /guides/buried-container, /guides/reinforce-container, /guides/nbc-filtration and /guides/shelter-ventilation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a bunker under my garden?

It depends on its size: Annex 1 of the Building Code applies, as for any building ¹². Above 60 m² of footprint, or over 5 m high, it needs a building permit; from 20 to 60 m², a building notice with design documentation ².

Must a new detached house include a shelter?

No. Regulation No. 50 sets no shelter duty for single-flat or two-flat houses, nor for terraced houses ⁵.

Does my new apartment building need a shelter?

Yes if it has three or more flats, a closed net area of at least 1,200 m², and its permit application or notice was filed on or after 1 July 2026 ³⁵.

Who checks shelters?

The Rescue Board supervises the shelter and sheltering-plan duties ³.

Sources

1. Riigi Teataja — Ehitusseadustik (wording in force from 1 October 2026), §§ 3, 35, 36, 38, 39 — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/111072026033 (accessed 2026-10-21)
2. Riigi Teataja — Ehitusseadustik, Lisa 1: Tabel ehitusteatise, ehitusprojekti ja ehitusloa kohustuslikkuse kohta — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/aktilisa/1110/7202/6033/EhS_17062026_lisa1.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
3. Riigi Teataja — Kriisiolukorra ja riigikaitse seadus (in force from 1 October 2026), §§ 95-97, 167, 185(12)-(14) — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/130062026001 (accessed 2026-10-21)
4. Riigi Teataja — Vabariigi Valitsuse 08.05.2026 määrus nr 50 (wording in force from 1 October 2026) — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/111092026006 (accessed 2026-10-21)
5. Riigi Teataja — Määrus nr 50, Lisa 1 — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/aktilisa/1110/9202/6006/VV_08052026_m50_lisa1.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21)
6. Riigi Teataja — Siseministri 05.01.2026 määrus nr 1 (grant to apartment associations) — https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/107012026029 (accessed 2026-10-21)