Short answer. Serbia has 1,442 public and block shelters in 48 municipalities, managed by the state shelter company in Belgrade, which builds, maintains and technically inspects them 12. Each local government plans where its residents shelter 3. No official online shelter locator was found: ask your municipality or the shelter company. The State Audit Institution found that about two thirds were not technically inspected in 2019-2022 1.
Who runs Serbia's public shelters?
The public shelters are managed by the state shelter company in Belgrade, long known as JP Skloništa Beograd - Novi Beograd 1. On 15 January 2026 its legal form changed and it became a limited-liability company, Društvo sa ograničenom odgovornošću za skloništa Beograd (DOO za skloništa) 2. It builds, maintains and technically inspects the shelters 2.
- Head office: Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 117a, Belgrade 2
- Branches: Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac 2
- Email: office@sklonista.co.rs 2
How many shelters are there?
The State Audit Institution's 2024 follow-up report counts 1,442 public shelters managed by the company 1. Our data records them as public and block shelters in 48 municipalities 12.
Are they in working order?
The audit found that about two thirds of the 1,442 public shelters were not technically inspected in 2019-2022 1. In the audit's words: "about two thirds of the 1,442 public shelters managed by JP Skloništa were not [inspected]" 1. The report does not say that a shelter is unusable; it says the inspections were not done in that period.
How do I find my nearest shelter?
No national map or search tool was found. Under the 2018 law (art. 61), planning the sheltering of residents is the job of each local government 3. So:
- Ask your municipality or city administration where residents of your street are meant to shelter 3.
- Or write to the shelter company at office@sklonista.co.rs 2.
- Note the answer in your family emergency plan.
Can a public shelter be used for something else in peacetime?
Yes. Public shelters may be rented out in peacetime, but they must be emptied and made ready within 24 hours if there is a threat of war 31.
What protection does a shelter give?
The 2024 Ministry of Interior rulebook sets two classes 4:
| Class | Overpressure | Capacity | Designed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic protection (osnovne zaštite) | at least 100 kPa | up to 300 people | 3 days |
| Supplementary protection (dopunske zaštite) | at least 50 kPa | up to 50 people | several hours (supplies for 1 day) |
Underground rooms adapted for sheltering, such as municipal, transport and other underground structures, must give 2 m² per person 4. Full detail: shelter standards. For background, see protection factor and shelter or evacuate.
What should I do when the siren sounds?
The Ministry's advice: if you are outside, go indoors or into a shelter quickly; if you are indoors, move away from windows and doors and stay there, then follow radio and TV announcements 5. See alerts.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app or map of shelters in Serbia?
None was found. Ask your local government, which plans the sheltering of residents 3, or the shelter company 2.
Who builds and maintains public shelters?
The Belgrade shelter company builds, maintains and inspects them 2.
What is JP Skloništa called now?
Since 15 January 2026 it is a limited-liability company, DOO za skloništa Beograd 2.
Can basements in new buildings be used as shelters?
Yes, under conditions: in new residential and other buildings, basements may be used for sheltering if a reinforced slab able to withstand the building's collapse is built above them 4. See build a shelter.
Sources
- Državna revizorska institucija — Послеревизиони извештај о мерама исправљања Јавног предузећа за склоништа Београд – Нови Београд по ревизији сврсисходности пословања „Управљање јавним склоништима у Републици Србији“ (бр. 400-272/2023-03/23, 29. март 2024) — https://www.dri.rs/storage/newaudits/2024-1-PR%20SV%20Upravljanje%20javnim%20sklonistima%20JP%20Sklonista.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Društvo sa ograničenom odgovornošću za skloništa Beograd (formerly JP Skloništa) — ДОО за склоништа – Почетна — https://www.sklonista.co.rs/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Narodna skupština Republike Srbije (consolidated text via Paragraf) — Zakon o smanjenju rizika od katastrofa i upravljanju vanrednim situacijama ("Sl. glasnik RS", br. 87/2018) — https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/zakon-o-smanjenju-rizika-od-katastrofa-i-upravljanju-vanrednim-situacijama.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova — Правилник о начину одржавања склоништа и прилагођавања комуналних, саобраћајних и других подземних објеката за склањање становништва ("Службени гласник РС", број 4/2024) — http://prezentacije.mup.gov.rs/svs/HTML/licence/Pravilnik%20o%20nacinu%20odrzavanja%20sklonista%20i%20prilagodjavanja%20komunalnih,%20saobracajnih%20i%20drugih%20podzemnih%20objekata%20za%20sklanjanje%20stanovnistv.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova, Sektor za vanredne situacije — Савети грађанима — http://prezentacije.mup.gov.rs/svs/saveti.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- Državna revizorska institucija · Послеревизиони извештај о мерама исправљања Јавног предузећа за склоништа Београд – Нови Београд по ревизији сврсисходности пословања „Управљање јавним склоништима у Републици Србији“ (бр. 400-272/2023-03/23, 29. март 2024) checked 2026-10-20
- Društvo sa ograničenom odgovornošću za skloništa Beograd (formerly JP Skloništa) · ДОО за склоништа – Почетна checked 2026-10-20
- Narodna skupština Republike Srbije (consolidated text via Paragraf) · Zakon o smanjenju rizika od katastrofa i upravljanju vanrednim situacijama ("Sl. glasnik RS", br. 87/2018) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova · Правилник о начину одржавања склоништа и прилагођавања комуналних, саобраћајних и других подземних објеката за склањање становништва ("Службени гласник РС", број 4/2024) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova, Sektor za vanredne situacije · Савети грађанима checked 2026-10-20