Emergency
112European emergency 117Police 118Fire brigade 144Ambulance 1414Rega (air rescue) 145Tox Info (poisoning)
Local time
Guide · GUIDE 25

Protection Shelters in Switzerland: Entitlement, Assignment, Equipment

Last reviewed on 04.07.2026

Yes. The Population and Civil Protection Act establishes that every resident is entitled to a protected place near their home. Switzerland has approximately nine million protected places – more than residents. Your municipality assigns your specific place; you only occupy it on official order.

Switzerland operates on the principle 'every resident deserves a protected place near their home' (Art. 60 of the Population and Civil Protection Act, BZG). The country has approximately nine million protected places in around 370,000 private and public protection shelters – a coverage rate exceeding 100 percent. Your specific protected place is assigned by your municipality; the shelter is only occupied by official order, such as during armed conflict. Protection shelters are designed to withstand wartime effects – blast waves, debris, and radioactive fallout – not earthquakes.

Switzerland's protection shelter system explained

Switzerland operates one of the few nationwide protection shelter systems. Since the 1960s, the goal has been 'one protected place per resident'; today it is achieved nationally. The purpose of protection shelters is to protect the population during an armed conflict.

This is legally anchored in the Federal Act on Population and Civil Protection (BZG, SR 520.1). Article 60 establishes the principle that every resident must have access to a protected place in a shelter near their home. Details on construction, equipment, and inspection are regulated in the Civil Protection Ordinance (ZSV, SR 520.11).

A distinction is made between private shelters (typically in residential building cellars) and public shelters operated by municipalities. Together, around 370,000 shelters provide approximately nine million protected places – a coverage rate over 100 percent. Nevertheless, regional gaps remain: city centers and some border regions still lack sufficient places.

Who must build a shelter – and what is the replacement contribution?

Construction obligation: Anyone building a residential house with 38 or more rooms must create and equip protected places – at a ratio of two places per three rooms (Art. 61 BZG, Art. 70 ZSV). For homes and hospitals, the construction obligation applies regardless of size.

Replacement contribution: If no private shelter is built – for example because the municipality already has sufficient places or construction is technically impossible – the owner pays a replacement contribution. Since 1 January 2026, this is uniformly CHF 1,400 per protected place not created across Switzerland (previously set cantonal rates, approximately CHF 400–800).

Where the funds go: Replacement contributions are paid to the canton. They finance the construction of public protection shelters and the maintenance of existing public and private facilities (Art. 62 BZG).

Cantonal differences: Implementation is the responsibility of cantons; payment deadlines and exemption practices may vary. Since the 2026 ZSV revision, the construction obligation can also be extended to extensions, renovations, and refurbishments with additional residential space.

How do I find out about my assigned protected place?

Cantons and municipalities are responsible for assignments. During peacetime, they plan which population is assigned to which shelter and continuously update these assignments.

In everyday life, you do not need to know your specific protected place – it is typically not publicly available online. The assignment is only announced when the security situation requires it.

In an emergency, municipalities and cantons inform through multiple channels: websites, notices, postal mail, or in person. General alarms and instructions are also distributed via sirens, radio (FM/DAB+), and Alertswiss.

How do I get my protection shelter ready?

  1. Wait for official order – shelter is only occupied on instruction (siren, radio, Alertswiss)
  2. Go to your assigned shelter (municipality/civil protection provides location in emergency)
  3. Clear the space: remove stored items, ensure access to doors and ventilation is clear
  4. Check armored door and cover for function and seal integrity
  5. Test ventilation system; ensure hand-crank operation works (in case of power failure)
  6. Set up sleeping places and dry toilets
  7. Stock emergency supplies, water, medicines, radio, and lighting
  8. Complete preparation within the statutory five-day period

Equipment and owner responsibilities

As the owner of a private shelter, you are obliged to keep it equipped and functional (maintenance obligation). The space must remain accessible, particularly for periodic official inspections.

Structural changes to the shell, doors, or ventilation require permits – the shelter's protective value must not be compromised. The ventilation system is the 'lung' of the shelter and must function even without power (via hand crank).

  1. Air intake (fresh air supply from outside)
  2. Ventilation unit – operable both electrically and manually (hand crank)
  3. Pre-filters and ABC protective filters (gas filters) – selectable in case of chemical/biological threat
  4. Overpressure valve – maintains pressure to prevent unfiltered outside air from entering
  5. Explosion protection valve – protects ventilation against blast waves and suction
  6. Armored door(s) and cover – with rubber seal, locks, and self-rescue device
  7. Emergency exit / escape tunnel; for larger spaces (51+ places) an airlock
  8. Required fixtures: sleeping places and dry toilets (mandatory equipment)

Can I use my protection shelter in everyday life?

Yes. As long as functionality is maintained, you may use the shelter in everyday life as a cellar, storage, archive, workshop, or playroom. This is explicitly permitted and normal practice.

Important: no structural changes to shell, doors, or ventilation; observe fire and electrical codes; no flammable material stored directly next to or above the space; doors and ventilation must remain accessible.

In an emergency, the space must be cleared and ready within five days. Plan storage so you can remove it quickly.

What does a protection shelter protect against – and what doesn't it?

Protection shelters are designed for wartime. They provide basic protection against weapon effects: blast waves and air pressure, debris and shrapnel, heat, vibration, radioactive radiation and fallout, and – via overpressure and gas filters – against biological and chemical contamination. The building envelope withstands at least around one bar of pressure (approximately 10 tonnes per square meter).

Protection shelters are not designed for earthquakes. However, because they are built so robustly that they remain intact even if the building above collapses, they can serve as emergency shelter after an earthquake. This is a side effect of the construction method, not its primary purpose.

Protection shelter, protection facility, cultural assets shelter – the differences

Protection shelter: protects the population. The most common type is the private residential cellar shelter; also public municipal shelters.

Protection facilities (including command posts, assembly points, and protected medical stations / protected operating stations): ensure the command and operational capability of population and civil protection services. They are not refuge for the general public.

Cultural assets shelter: provides secure storage of movable cultural property during armed conflict or disasters – protects objects, not people.

Common mistakes / misunderstandings

  1. 'I have unrestricted access to my public shelter at any time' – wrong: protected places are assigned and only accessed on official order; public shelters are locked in everyday life
  2. 'The shelter protects in earthquakes' – it is designed for wartime effects (blast, debris, radiation), not earthquakes; afterward it can serve as emergency shelter
  3. Never checking ventilation equipment, armored door, or valves for years – not operational in an emergency
  4. Storage so packed that it cannot be cleared within five days
  5. Making structural changes to door, shell, or ventilation without permits – destroys shelter value
  6. Waiting to 'look up' your assigned place – assignment is only communicated in an emergency
  7. Confusing shelter with emergency supplies: it provides neither water, food, medicines, nor radio
Protection Shelters Switzerland – Facts at a Glance
Question Fact Legal / Source Reference
Principle One protected place per resident, near their home Art. 60 BZG (SR 520.1)
Number of places approximately 9 million in around 370,000 shelters FOCP (2023/2024)
Coverage rate over 100%, with regional gaps FOCP
Building obligation from New residential house with 38 rooms (2 places per 3 rooms) Art. 70 ZSV (SR 520.11)
Replacement contribution CHF 1,400/place (since 1.1.2026, uniform) Art. 75 ZSV
Occupation Only on official order (siren/radio/Alertswiss) FOCP
Preparation deadline Ready for occupation within 5 days FOCP Brochure
Inspection (PSK) Periodic, at least every 10 years ZSV / Cantons
Protection against Blast waves, debris, radioactive fallout, ABC – not earthquakes FOCP Brochure

Figures and legal status: FOCP and fedlex (BZG SR 520.1 / ZSV SR 520.11), as of July 2026. The 2026 ZSV revision (effective 1.1.2026) standardized the replacement contribution and strengthened maintenance obligations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which shelter is assigned to me?

Municipalities and cantons make the assignment. They plan it during peacetime but only announce it when the situation requires – via websites, notices, postal mail, or in person. Your assigned place is not normally publicly available in everyday life.

Must I, as a homeowner, build a shelter?

Only when building a new residential house with 38 or more rooms. Otherwise, you pay a replacement contribution of CHF 1,400 per protected place not created (since 1 January 2026, uniform across Switzerland). The money goes to the canton for public shelters and maintenance.

When must I go to my protection shelter?

Only on official order, such as during an armed conflict. Authorities inform via sirens, radio (FM/DAB+), and Alertswiss. The shelter must be ready for occupation within five days.

May I use the shelter as a cellar or storage?

Yes, everyday use as a cellar, storage, archive, or hobby room is permitted, provided functionality is maintained and no structural changes are made to doors, shell, or ventilation. In an emergency, the shelter must be cleared and ready within five days.

Does a shelter protect against earthquakes?

No, it is not designed for that. Shelters are built for wartime effects – blast waves, debris, and radioactive fallout. Because they are so robust and withstand building collapse, they can serve as emergency shelter after an earthquake.

What equipment must a private shelter keep functional?

The ventilation unit (also with hand crank), pre- and ABC gas filters, overpressure and explosion protection valves, plus armored door and cover. Sleeping places and dry toilets are also required. The owner is responsible for maintenance and inspection – checked periodically, at least every ten years.

How much pressure can a shelter's structure withstand?

The structure of a protection shelter can withstand an overpressure of at least about one bar – equivalent to roughly 10 tonnes per square metre. Shelters are designed for wartime and provide basic protection against blast pressure, debris, heat, radioactive radiation and – through overpressure and gas filters – against biological and chemical contamination.

What is the difference between private and public shelters?

Private shelters are located in the basements of residential buildings and are the most common type; public shelters are operated by municipalities. Together, around 370,000 shelters offer approximately nine million shelter spaces – a coverage rate of over 100 percent. However, there are regional gaps, particularly in city centres and some remote regions.

Official sources