Short answer. No Greek procedure specific to a private home shelter was found. Building work follows Law 4495/2017: a building permit is needed for any work that is not small-scale, including erection and excavation beyond ±0.80 m 4. Legislative Decree 17/1974 says shelters are built in public and private buildings following decisions of the Government Council for National Security, which are not public 2. Private premises designated as shelters must be ready within 24 hours 1. This page is still being verified.
Law 4495/2017 was read only in its 2017 Gazette text, and the national security council decisions are not published. The page is marked for verification.
Do I need a building permit for a shelter in Greece?
No shelter-specific permit was found. Under article 29(1) of Law 4495/2017, a building permit (οικοδομική άδεια) is required for any building work that is not a small-scale work, in particular 4:
- erecting, extending or repairing buildings;
- excavation or filling of more than ±0.80 m;
- building underground tanks;
- retaining walls not covered by a small-scale works approval.
Article 30 lists works that need neither a permit nor a small-scale approval, such as minor internal repairs or alterations that do not change the load-bearing structure and ground shaping up to ±0.80 m 4. A buried shelter or structural work on an existing building therefore falls under the permit regime 4. We read the 2017 text as published in the Government Gazette; later amendments were not checked, so confirm with a licensed engineer and the competent building service.
Is there a law requiring shelters in buildings?
According to the Ministry of Citizen Protection, article 13(6) of Legislative Decree 17/1974 provides that shelters are built in buildings of the State, public-law bodies, local government, organisations, enterprises of any kind and private persons, following decisions of the Government Council for National Security (ΚΥΣΕΑ) 2. Those decisions are not published, so we could not confirm whether any new private building must currently include a shelter.
Under a 1976 joint ministerial decision, municipalities must build communal shelters and set aside 0.10 % of their ordinary annual revenue for this, as summarised by the same ministry 2.
What rules apply to private premises designated as shelters?
The Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection told Parliament in November 2025 that 1:
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Committees set up by each regional governor for three years look for new sites suitable as shelters | 1 |
| 2,892 sites are designated as shelters, with a capacity of 1,981,514 people (expandable by 30 %) | 1 |
| Local government maintains designated public sites | 1 |
| Owners maintain designated private premises, which may be used for other purposes except housing, provided they can be made operational within 24 hours to host civilians | 1 |
The passage reads: "για τη συντήρηση των ιδιωτικών χώρων, που δύνανται να αξιοποιηθούν και για έτερους λόγους -πλην κατοικίας- με την προϋπόθεση ότι, εφόσον απαιτηθεί, εξασφαλίζεται εντός 24ωρου η προετοιμασία και η επιχειρησιακή τους χρήση για τη φιλοξενία άμαχου πληθυσμού, είναι οι ιδιοκτήτες αυτών" 1.
Who sets technical requirements?
The Ministry of National Defence told Parliament in April 2026 that coordinating the study and setting of safety requirements and technical specifications for shelters falls under the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and that building and maintaining communal shelters is a task of local government 3. We found no published Greek technical standard or approval scheme for private shelters, and no official subsidy.
Who should design it?
A licensed engineer, working with the competent building service. This page gives no construction instructions. The guides on safe room standards, shelter ventilation, radon underground and shelter humidity and mould explain the issues to raise with a professional. See also earthquake preparedness.
What exists instead?
The state counts designated public and private shelter sites (see the public shelters page), and the official household guidance focuses on supplies, a family plan and staying informed (see the emergency supplies page).
Frequently asked questions
Can I declare my basement as a shelter?
No procedure for owners was found. Designation is done by committees set up by regional governors, which look for suitable sites 1.
Can a designated private shelter be used day to day?
Yes, for purposes other than housing, provided it can be made operational within 24 hours 1.
Is there a Greek shelter standard?
None was found published. Shelter safety requirements and technical specifications are a matter for the Ministry of Environment and Energy 3.
Do new buildings need a shelter?
Legislative Decree 17/1974 links shelters in private buildings to decisions of the national security council, which are not public 2. We could not confirm a current duty.
Sources
- Υπουργείο Προστασίας του Πολίτη (Hellenic Parliament) — Απάντηση στην από 21-10-2025 με αριθμό 468 Ερώτηση του Βουλευτή κ. Κ. Βελόπουλου — https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/13104325.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21); dated 2025-11-05
- Υπουργείο Προστασίας του Πολίτη (Hellenic Parliament) — Απάντηση στην από 14-12-2020 με αριθμό 2651 ερώτηση — https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/11480843.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21); dated 2021-01-08
- Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (Hellenic Parliament) — Κοινοβουλευτικός Έλεγχος – Ερώτηση 3726/09-03-2026 — https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/13262423.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21); dated 2026-04-07
- Εθνικό Τυπογραφείο — Νόμος 4495/2017 – Έλεγχος και προστασία του Δομημένου Περιβάλλοντος (ΦΕΚ Α' 167/03.11.2017) — https://ia37rg02wpsa01.blob.core.windows.net/fek/01/2017/20170100167.pdf (accessed 2026-10-21); 2017 text as published, later amendments not checked
Turn this into action
Your plan for Greece, 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
- Υπουργείο Προστασίας του Πολίτη (Hellenic Parliament) · Απάντηση στην από 21-10-2025 με αριθμό 468 Ερώτηση του Βουλευτή κ. Κ. Βελόπουλου checked 2026-10-21
- Υπουργείο Προστασίας του Πολίτη (Hellenic Parliament) · Απάντηση στην από 14-12-2020 με αριθμό 2651 ερώτηση checked 2026-10-21
- Υπουργείο Εθνικής Άμυνας (Hellenic Parliament) · Κοινοβουλευτικός Έλεγχος – Ερώτηση 3726/09-03-2026 checked 2026-10-21
- Εθνικό Τυπογραφείο · Νόμος 4495/2017 – Έλεγχος και προστασία του Δομημένου Περιβάλλοντος (ΦΕΚ Α' 167/03.11.2017) checked 2026-10-21