Short answer. Taiwan has no separate permit for a household shelter. Instead, articles 140 to 144 of the Building Technical Regulations require air-raid shelter facilities (防空避難設備) in new, extended, rebuilt or change-of-use buildings in designated areas, for example over the full building footprint for non-public buildings of 6 or more storeys 1. They are approved through the ordinary building permit 1.
Which buildings must include a shelter in Taiwan?
Articles 140 and 141 of the Building Technical Regulations (Design and Construction chapter) apply to new, extended, rebuilt or change-of-use buildings in designated areas 1:
| Building type | Required shelter space |
|---|---|
| Non-public buildings of 6 or more storeys | full building area |
| Theatres, cinemas and similar venues | full building area |
| Schools | 1 m² per planned occupant, within 300 m walking distance |
| Factories of 5 or more storeys | full building area, or 1 m² per planned worker |
| Other public buildings of 5 or more storeys | full building area |
In the text: "非供公眾使用之建築物，其層數在六層以上者，按建築面積全部附建" — non-public buildings of six storeys or more must include shelter over their full building area 1.
Have the rules changed recently?
Yes. Articles 140 to 142 and 144, as amended on 23 February 2026 (民國115年), apply from 1 July 2026 1. Press reports say the per-person basis rose from 0.75 to 1 m²; the amended text gives 1 m² per planned occupant or worker 1.
Can the shelter space be used for something else?
Yes, within limits set by article 142: shelter floor area of 200 m² or more may only double as parking; smaller areas may have other uses set by local governments 1. Most air-raid evacuation facilities are basements of existing buildings, many of them private 2.
Do I need a permit to build a shelter at home?
No separate shelter permit exists. Shelter facilities are checked through the ordinary building permit process 1. No official rule was found for a stand-alone shelter built by a private household beyond general building permits 1. Any such project is structural work: refer it to a licensed engineer or architect, and to your local building authority.
What technical standards apply?
Article 144 sets the design standards: reinforced concrete construction, at least 30 cm on exposed walls and roof slabs, a ceiling height of at least 2.1 m, two entrances, mechanical ventilation on emergency power and emergency lighting 1. Details are on the shelter standards page. This page does not give construction instructions.
Further reading
The general questions behind a private shelter are covered in /guides/protection-factor, /guides/shelter-ventilation, /guides/nbc-filtration and /guides/buried-container.
Frequently asked questions
Does my apartment building have a shelter?
Non-public buildings of 6 or more storeys in designated areas must include shelter space over their full building area 1. The 警政服務 app shows registered air-raid evacuation facilities and their capacity 2 (see public shelters).
Can a building's shelter be used as a car park?
Yes. Shelter areas of 200 m² or more may only double as parking 1.
Who checks that a shelter complies?
Compliance is checked through the building permit process; no separate product certification was found 1.
Sources
- 內政部 / 全國法規資料庫 — 建築技術規則建築設計施工編 (第140-144條，修正日期 民國115年02月23日) — https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0070115 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- 內政部警政署統計室 — 警政服務App在手 防空避難跟我走 — https://www.npa.gov.tw/ch/app/data/view?module=wg054&id=2206&serno=4c4cffb7-bd19-425f-9282-c55578599d0a (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Taiwan, 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
- 內政部 / 全國法規資料庫 · 建築技術規則建築設計施工編 (第140-144條，修正日期 民國115年02月23日) checked 2026-10-20
- 內政部警政署統計室 · 警政服務App在手 防空避難跟我走 checked 2026-10-20