A new amendment to Israel’s Planning and Building Law allows homeowners to build larger safe rooms - up to 18 square meters (about 194 sq. ft.), compared to the current 12. The updated regulation also permits adding a small bathroom and shower inside the protected space. The change, introduced after the “Iron Swords” war, aims to improve both security and comfort in Israeli homes.

Real estate developers view the reform as a welcome improvement, saying it adds value to apartments and makes the safe room more functional. “It’s no longer just an emergency shelter,” one developer explains. “It can now be used as a proper bedroom, a study, or even a small master suite.”

Still, architects and planners warn that adapting existing designs to the new rules may cause bureaucratic delays and slow down new housing projects.

According to the National Planning Administration, dozens of developments have already been paused to adjust their blueprints. Experts say the change is positive in the long run, but the transition period could temporarily slow construction across the country.