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

Short answer. Ukraine has no permit specific to a household shelter: it is ordinary construction under the urban-planning law ¹. Works on objects with minor consequences (class CC1) start after a notification to the state architecture and construction control body; class CC2 and CC3 objects need a construction permit ¹. Since Law No. 4778-IX of 2026, listed new buildings, such as larger apartment buildings, must include a shelter; private houses are not on the list ¹³.

Do I need a permit for a shelter at home?

There is no shelter permit. Article 34 of the Law on Regulation of Urban Planning sets the ordinary regime for all construction ¹:

The Civil Protection Code adds that protective structures are sited, designed and built according to building codes ². These texts do not say which consequence class a home shelter falls into; your designer and the control body determine it. Check with your local authority before any work.

Which new buildings must include a shelter?

Law No. 4778-IX of 10 February 2026 rewrote Article 31(10) of the urban-planning law ¹³. Shelters or dual-use structures must now be provided when building new ¹:

• apartment buildings, dormitories and hotels of class CC2 or CC3 with more than 50 people permanently or 100 periodically;
• buildings of education, health care and social protection, and administrative service centres;
• stations with 1,500 or more passengers a day, metro, airports, sea and river ports;
• other CC2 or CC3 public buildings with more than 150 people permanently or 500 periodically;
• certain enterprises and critical infrastructure.

The same applies to a reconstruction that changes a building's use to one of these ¹. A shelter is not mandatory where the right to build was obtained before the law entered into force ³. The law enters into force six months after publication, with exceptions ³, and the official consolidated text of the urban-planning law already shows the new wording ¹.

What rules apply to shelters in the state fund?

These rules apply to structures in the civil-protection fund, not automatically to a private home shelter ²:

• siting, design and construction follow building codes, and protective properties are set according to the civil-protection group of the territory (Art. 32(6));
• owners, users and legal entities holding a fund structure on their balance sheet maintain it at their own cost (Art. 32(8));
• they run quarterly inspections and allow civil-protection inspectors access (Art. 32).

Design and construction of fund structures may be financed from state and local budgets, businesses and other lawful sources ². Phaenyx found no subsidy for a household shelter.

Is there a standard I can refer to?

Yes, for civil-protection structures: ДБН В.2.2-5:2023 "Захисні споруди цивільного захисту", in force since 1 November 2023 ⁴. See our shelter standards page. Since Law No. 4778-IX, anti-radiation shelters for up to 50 people are designed and built with modular units meeting national standards ².

What should you consider before building?

Structural work underground or inside an existing building must be designed and checked by an engineer; Phaenyx does not provide construction instructions. To understand the concepts an engineer will discuss, read:

• What is a shelter's protection factor?
• How much fresh air does a shelter need?
• How does NBC air filtration work in a shelter?
• Can you bury a shipping container as a shelter?

Meanwhile, the state fund includes basic shelters such as basements, and the Diia app lists the nearest one ²⁵. See our public shelters page.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to build a bunker at home in Ukraine?

Yes, under the ordinary construction rules: a notification for a CC1 object, a permit for CC2 or CC3 ¹. No shelter-specific licence exists in these texts ¹².

Must a new house include a shelter?

No. The list in Article 31(10) covers apartment buildings, dormitories and hotels of class CC2 or CC3 and public or critical buildings, not private houses ¹.

Do I have to register my private shelter?

The registration and inspection duties Phaenyx found apply to structures in the state shelter fund ². No separate registration for a household shelter was found.

Must a private shelter meet ДБН В.2.2-5:2023?

The Civil Protection Code requires protective structures to follow building codes, and ДБН В.2.2-5:2023 is the code for civil-protection structures ²⁴. Your engineer confirms how it applies to your project.

Sources

1. Верховна Рада України — Закон «Про регулювання містобудівної діяльності» (№ 3038-VI), статті 31(10), 34 — https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3038-17 (accessed 2026-10-21)
2. Верховна Рада України — Кодекс цивільного захисту України (№ 5403-VI), статті 32, 34 — https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17 (accessed 2026-10-21)
3. Верховна Рада України — Закон № 4778-IX від 10.02.2026 — https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4778-20 (accessed 2026-10-21)
4. Міністерство розвитку громад, територій та інфраструктури України (реєстр e-construction) — ДБН В.2.2-5:2023 Захисні споруди цивільного захисту — https://e-construction.gov.ua/laws_detail/3875987194791331287?doc_type=2 (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Кабінет Міністрів України — Нова послуга в Дії: знаходьте найближче укриття в кілька кліків — https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/nova-posluha-v-dii-znakhodte-naiblyzhche-ukryttia-v-kilka-klikiv (accessed 2026-10-20)