Liberal Movement proposes allowing small rural shelters to be built without permits

The Liberal Movement has proposed amendments to the Construction Law that would allow small shelters in rural areas to be built without a permit, LRT reports.

The changes would exempt shelters of up to 50 square metres in area and no more than 30 cm above ground level from requiring construction approval. However, this exception would not apply in protected or cultural heritage areas.

According to the explanatory note accompanying the amendments, recent geopolitical shifts, Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, and the growing risk of hybrid and military threats—along with regular air raid warnings—highlight the need to improve civilian preparedness for extreme situations and potential military incidents.

Rural residents often lack quick access to public shelters or collective protection structures, making the ability to quickly set up individual shelters particularly important, the proposal’s authors argue. If approved by the Seimas, such shelters would be classified as simple structures subject to corresponding requirements.