Amendments to the shelter regulation
Türkiye's geopolitical position has created a reality that has confronted the country with major natural disasters and wars throughout history. In recent years, especially after the 2023 earthquakes, comprehensive changes have been implemented in areas such as building strengthening practices, transformation of risky structures, and the use of sustainable construction materials. The acceleration of the implementation of Law No. 6306 has led to the concept of "urban transformation" being repositioned at the forefront of both the public agenda and the priorities of the construction sector.
As part of this transformation process, The Regulation Amending the Shelter Regulation ("Regulation"), published in the Official Gazette No. 33070 dated 7 November 2025, introduced new standards to Türkiye's legislation on disaster resilience. The Regulation provides a more holistic and applicable framework by reorganising the concepts, responsibilities, and usage principles regarding shelters considering modern risk conditions. This new approach has the potential to create significant changes both in new projects and in the use of existing building stock.
Redefinition of the shelter
The Regulation defines shelters not only as protection areas for wartime, but as structures that provide protection in a wide range from natural disasters to chemical and biological risks. Additionally, shelters are for the first time explicitly divided into two categories as "private" (for buildings' own users) and "general" (for the community, under state coordination). This distinction aims to implement the disaster management strategy in cities in a more planned and functional manner.
Obligations depending on building scales
One notable innovation in the Regulation, compared to previous years, is that the criteria determining which buildings must include shelters have been simplified and made risk based. While no obligation is imposed on small-scale residential projects and relatively low-density buildings, buildings with high human density or facilities with strategic functions are kept within the scope of obligation.
Accordingly, shelter construction is now mandatory in residential buildings with more than 10 independent units; dormitories, barracks, hotels, and other accommodation facilities with over 50 beds; care homes for the disabled, elderly, or children with more than 25 beds; inpatient healthcare institutions; and all manufacturing or industrial facilities with a gross floor area exceeding 2,000 m².
The Regulation also brings a shelter requirement for new stadiums and similar open or closed sports venues with a spectator capacity of 5,000 or more, and mandates that shelter capacity be calculated at a minimum of 3% of total spectator capacity.
Repositioning urban infrastructure for disaster management
The Regulation not only focuses on buildings; it also envisages that infrastructure of critical importance at the city scale can be made available for use as shelters when necessary.
Metro lines, underground rail systems, large parks, and intensive public use areas have been included in the Regulation as areas that need to be planned to provide collective protection during disasters.
The requirement to allocate shelter areas at specified ratios demonstrates that Türkiye has placed disaster resilience at the core of its urban planning approach, particularly in large-scale public spaces.
Peacetime use and common area regime
The Regulation brings important frameworks regarding how shelters can be used in peacetime.
Although shelters are allowed to be used temporarily for different purposes without losing their nature, the fact that this use is subject to common area status, owner majority, and administrative notification conditions aims to protect the primary function of shelters.
This approach aims to limit the risks that may be created by the practices of “using shelters as warehouses or parking lots” that have become widespread, especially in crowded cities.
Stricter supervision in administrative processes
The new Regulation requires shelters to undergo stricter administrative oversight throughout both the licensing and occupancy processes. Regulations that prevent issuing permits for buildings lacking designated shelters or failing to meet project requirements, as well as those that restrict the granting of occupancy permits, serve as strong mechanisms to enhance the enforceability of the legislation.
Moreover, requiring completed shelters to be registered and reported to the relevant authorities is intended to build a nationwide inventory, thereby creating the database needed for effective management of public capacity during disasters.
Key takeaways
The Regulation represents an important turning point in Türkiye’s construction and urban planning policies regarding disaster resilience. The Regulation not only updates the technical conditions of buildings but also ensures the planning of safe areas at the city scale, the functioning of critical infrastructure as protection when necessary, and the establishment of shelter obligations within a more rational framework.
At the same time, it reinforces the vision of a sustainable and risk-resilient construction sector in harmony with Türkiye’s post-2023 reconstruction and urban transformation policies. From the perspective of international investors, developers, and sector professionals, these changes provide a strong framework for the future of the sector by making project development processes in Türkiye both more predictable and based on higher safety standards.
If you would like to discuss this article further, please contact the contributing authors from our association law firm Pekin and Pekin, Ömer Faruk Gürol and Ebru Elaman.
