Refuge Act – fresh obligations for developers

As of 1 January 2026, a shelter bill will apply, aimed at raising the level of civilian protection in crisis situations specified as armed conflicts, natural disasters or terrorist threats. The regulation requires developers to plan fresh buildings in specified a way that their underground parts can service as hiding places.


The fresh government responds to the challenges of the modern safety environment and fits into a wider state resilience building system. The introduction of the law means not only additional tasks for the construction industry, but besides a real strengthening of civilian defence potential, which is crucial in the face of increasing geopolitical tensions.

What changes the shelter bill?

The draft shelter bill establishes fresh rules for the plan of underground floors and garages in multi-family buildings and public utility. From 2026, these spaces are to be planned in specified a way that they can service as temporary refuges. The definitions introduced clarify the scope of civilian protection concepts and form the basis for building a coherent civilian protection system.

Security is simply a protective structure with a closed and airtight structure, equipped with filter ventilation systems or regenerative absorbers, providing access to clean air and unchangeable endurance conditions.

Hide means a building structure which is not of a hermetic character but can inactive execute protective functions.

A place of temporary refuge is simply a collective protection facility, e.g. school, office or another public utility building, adapted to supply temporary cover during the crisis.

For developers, Article 91 of the civilian Protection and civilian Defence Act of 5 December 2024 is peculiarly important. We can read in it that:
‘When planning the essential number of collective protection facilities, the competent civilian protection authorities shall carry out an on-going review of the construction facilities, including those planned for construction, in the area of their local property, in order to choice the construction facilities which may be considered collective protection facilities, the planned locations of the organisation of ad hoc shelters and buildings useful for adaptation to ad hoc shelter sites. Non-terrestrial buildings and single-family dwellings are not included in the current review of buildings. The mayor (the mayor, the city president), the politician or the politician may commission a check of the building in terms of gathering or being able to meet the conditions for collective protection facilities."

In the light of this passage, public buildings, multi-family buildings and underground garages must be designed in specified a way that temporary shelters can be easy arranged. In practice, this means, among another things, stronger constructions of specified buildings. But that's not all.

What changes in building plan are the shelter bill making?

The fresh rules require developers to usage more advanced method solutions in building design. From 2026, investments will gotta take into account additional requirements for evacuation, ventilation and fire protection. Acoustic and thermal insulation and independent emergency power systems will besides play an crucial function in ensuring the functionality of the facilities in crisis conditions.

These requirements besides include enhanced structural resistance, which will force the usage of modern materials and technologies. This means not only expanding safety standards, but besides a major step towards the modernisation of national construction. akin solutions have been implemented decades ago in countries specified as Switzerland, Finland and Israel.

Costs of the fresh law

The Polish Association of Developers estimated that the cost of the full investment equipped with a shelter could be up to 30% higher than the construction without specified space.

Fortunately, these expenses can be reimbursed by civilian protection authorities. According to Article 106 of the Act, owners and plant managers may apply for special-purpose subsidies covering up to 100 percent of the increased investment costs resulting from the request to comply with the provisions of the Act. Investors who do not search specified support will gotta sale flats in a block with a shelter more expensive.

The process of adapting the building to fresh standards requires the improvement of cost estimates and technological changes, which will naturally prolong the implementation of investments. However, it is simply a long-term investment which will strengthen the resilience of the state and the safety of residents in the long term. The investment with the shelter will surely besides be more attractive to possible buyers. For example, presently only a fewer on Real Estate-online.pl portal development offers include buildings equipped with shelters.

At the moment, the most uncertainties arise from unclear rules that investors will gotta implement quickly. The Act is inactive waiting for circumstantial method conditions, which will only be determined by the order of the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior.

Both the authors of the bill and the developers realize that from 2026 residential properties will be created longer. fresh estimates must besides be created that take into account the requirements of the Act. This will surely affect the supply of modern housing.

Although the time for implementing regulations is limited, both public administrations and the construction sector are working intensively on applicable solutions. The common goal is to guarantee that from 2026 all fresh residential and educational building in Poland is more safe and prepared for the challenges of modern safety environment. safety is not only a cost, but besides an investment in the morale of society and credibility of Poland as a country prepared for the crisis.

New responsibilities not only for developers

An crucial component of the shelter bill is strengthening the function of local governments. From 2026 the municipalities will be required to prepare their own parts of the provincial evacuation plans and to organise cooperation between civilian protection and civilian defence entities. These tasks will cover both logistical issues and the provision of adequate equipment for local safety structures.

Local governments will be liable not only for equipment, medical resources or water resources, but besides for infrastructure that can be utilized in crisis situations. It will be a key work to keep records and to keep shelters, shelters and emergency shelters in good condition. This will give the civilian protection strategy a unchangeable basis at local level, allowing it to respond more efficiently in the event of a threat.

The cooperation of the improvement and self-government company on fresh projects will be crucial for the creation of a safe and modern building. Developers will be able to learn more about details of cooperation with local governments in Developer Advice On Property-online.pl. It will be the local governments who will carry out inspections of specified facilities, but will besides organise training on the safety of civilians in the city during the crisis. All of these activities are intended to contribute to raising awareness besides of local threats that characterise the region.

The tasks of local governments will besides include financing and co-financing the maintenance, modernisation and construction of infrastructure essential for civilian protection in the municipality. It can so be assumed that building this kind of building will be done with financial support at this level.