Just a few years ago, home shelters were something you saw in action films. Today more and more people in Poland ask a very concrete question: how much does it cost, and can it be done legally?
This article answers both questions — no beating around the bush.
Why are people in Poland building shelters in 2026?
Interest in home shelters in Poland has grown several times over in the last two years. There are a few reasons.
First — changes in the law. Since 2026, new building regulations require Temporary Shelter Places (MDS) to be designed in multi-family buildings with underground levels. It is a signal that the state takes civil protection seriously.
Second — growing awareness. People increasingly think about safety in practical terms: what to do in the event of an infrastructure failure, severe hail, flooding or another threat? A home shelter is an answer not only to military threats — it is protection against every extreme.
Third — accessibility. Thanks to changes in building law, a shelter of up to 35 m² next to a single-family house no longer requires a building permit. A notification is enough. That completely changes the situation for private homeowners.
Types of home shelters
Before we get to costs, it is worth knowing what you are choosing.
Prefabricated shelter (installed)
A ready-made concrete or polyethylene “box” delivered by the manufacturer. The contractor excavates, sets the shelter in place, connects the ventilation and backfills. Lead time: 2–3 working days.
Pros: speed, predictable price, manufacturer certification. Cons: limited dimensions, less flexible design.
Cast-in-place shelter (concrete, turnkey)
Built on site from reinforced concrete — just like a basement, but with reinforced walls, air filtration and airtight doors. An architect prepares the design, a construction crew builds it.
Pros: any size, can be integrated into the house design, highest strength. Cons: longer lead time (2–4 weeks), higher cost.
Container shelter (steel)
An insulated steel container with a ventilation system, buried in the ground. Popular in the premium segment.
Pros: mobility (you can take it with you when selling the house), quick installation. Cons: corrosion if poorly insulated, higher material cost.
See the shelter in 3D and place it in your garden
Rotate the model, tap the points, and on your phone use AR to see the real size of the shelter on your own plot.
AR works on your phone (iPhone: Quick Look, Android: Scene Viewer). On a computer, rotate the model with the mouse.
- 1Reinforced concrete walls 30–40 cm
- 2Mechanical filtered ventilation
- 3Airtight door and vestibule
- 4Price and permits (up to 35 m² without a permit)
How much does a home shelter cost in 2026?
This is the question we hear most often. The answer depends on three factors: size, technology and finish.
| Shelter type | Floor area | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Prefabricated shelter (installation) | 6–15 m² | PLN 80,000 – 150,000 |
| Family shelter (cast-in-place) | 15–35 m² | PLN 150,000 – 350,000 |
| Extended shelter (turnkey) | 35–60 m² | PLN 350,000 – 600,000 |
Labour costs around Nowy Sącz are 30–50% lower than in Warsaw or Kraków — which means the same project will cost less with us than with a contractor from a big city.
What is included in the price?
- Architectural and structural design (required by law)
- Excavation and earthworks
- Structure (reinforced concrete or prefabricated unit)
- Mechanical ventilation with a filter
- Airtight or blast-resistant door
- Backfilling and site restoration
What can increase the price?
- Difficult ground (rock, high groundwater level)
- Additional equipment (water reserve, generator, radio)
- Distance from our base (Nowy Sącz and the surrounding area at the standard price)
Do you need a building permit for a shelter?
Short answer: next to a single-family house — no, if the shelter is up to 35 m².
Longer answer:
Under current regulations, a home shelter or home hiding place with a usable area of up to 35 m² next to a single-family house requires only a building notification — not a full permit. The authority has 21 days to object. If it does not respond — you can build.
For the notification you need:
- A site development plan
- An architectural and structural design (prepared by a licensed designer)
- A technical description and the designer’s declaration
- Appointment of a site manager
Zaremba Construction works with local design offices — we can help you put together the complete documentation.
What does building a shelter look like? Stages
For a cast-in-place shelter, a typical schedule looks like this:
Week 1 — Design and formalities Architectural design + notification to the district office. We start the procedure and wait for the 21 days to pass.
Weeks 2–3 — Earthworks Excavation with an excavator to a depth of 2.5–3.5 m (depending on the design). Subgrade preparation, drainage.
Weeks 3–4 — Structure Formwork, reinforcement, pouring reinforced concrete (walls min. 30–40 cm). Monolithic slab.
Weeks 4–5 — Installations and finishing Filtered ventilation, airtight door, emergency power (optional). Damp-proofing, backfilling.
Weeks 5–6 — Handover and documentation Site manager’s inspection, as-built documentation.
Case study: a shelter for a family of five in Limanowa
[Example project — data anonymised]
Situation: A client from Limanowa — single-family house, 800 m² plot, family of five. He wanted shelter for the whole family for at least 72 hours with a reserve of water and food.
Challenge: High groundwater level on the plot (1.8 m), which normally makes underground shelters difficult to build.
Solution: A semi-underground shelter (partly above ground level) cast from B40 concrete with a floor area of 28 m². Additional two-layer waterproofing, a drainage pump. Mechanical ventilation with a HEPA + activated carbon filter.
Result: Shelter ready 5 weeks after the first meeting. Total cost: PLN 198,000 gross (design + materials + labour). The client received the structure with complete documentation, ready to be registered.
Zaremba Construction — an experienced local contractor
We are a construction company from Nowy Sącz. We build home shelters across Lesser Poland (Małopolska) — Nowy Sącz, Limanowa, Gorlice, Nowy Targ and the surrounding area.
We have our own excavator, which means:
- No subcontractors for earthworks (lower cost)
- Faster start of works
- Full control over the quality of the excavation
We work with local design offices and material suppliers.
Free quote — no obligation
Want to know how much a shelter on your plot would cost? Contact us — within 48 hours we will get back to you with an indicative quote.
📞 +48 696 061 290 ✉️ info@zarembacs.pl 📍 Nowy Sącz and the surrounding area — Lesser Poland
We can also come to your plot and assess the ground conditions free of charge before giving a price.
Article updated: March 2026. Prices are indicative and depend on the project specification, ground conditions and material availability. Contact us for an exact quote.