Florence targets key box rentals to protect historic center
The authorities in Florence have implemented measures to combat the adverse effects of mass tourism and enhance the quality of life for residents. The new regulations, which comprise a list of 10 points, include a ban on the use of popular key boxes that allow tourists to enter an apartment without directly interacting with the owner.
Florence is adopting measures to curb excessive tourism. The new rules aim to safeguard the historic downtown area from the detrimental effects of a large influx of visitors.
New regulations in Florence
This week, Mayor Sara Funaro's cabinet approved a 10-point action plan to protect the local community and preserve the city's authentic character.
Beginning next year, Florence will implement a ban on using key boxes in the historic city centre. These boxes symbolize the booming short-term rental market in the city's heart. Metal boxes from which tourists retrieve keys to rented apartments for self-check-in indicate the increasing number of apartments available on platforms like Airbnb.
Critics argue that these practices deprive local residents of access to affordable housing and contribute to the depopulation of historic city centres. The city council has announced that starting next year, these boxes will be prohibited in the UNESCO-listed centre of Florence "for reasons of decorum and safety."
The city's new mayor, Sara Funaro, stated in an interview with the "Telegraph" that she intends to promote "a more sustainable model of tourism, manage tourist numbers and improve the quality of life for residents." - You just have to walk through the city centre and you will see how many key boxes there are on historic palazzi - she emphasized.
Florence has long been tackling short-term rentals
According to Italy's national statistics office, ISTAT, in 2023, the country welcomed a record 134 million tourists, and 451 million people stayed in hotels or other registered accommodations. The number of guests using non-hotel accommodations rose by almost 17 percent compared to 2022.
Last year, Florence announced a ban on new short-term private rentals in the city centre to curb the outflow of residents.
City authorities have repeatedly appealed to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government for special regulations to limit the number of days properties can be rented to 120 per year. Only Venice has received permission to restrict short-term rentals and introduced a fee for day-trippers to control visitor numbers.
