Milan Joins Italian Cities in Banning Key Boxes for Short-Term Rentals

Milan has officially joined the growing list of Italian cities taking a stand against key boxes used for short-term vacation rentals. Starting in January 2026, these small lockboxes, which allow guests to check in independently without meeting hosts in person, will be banned throughout the city following a recent council resolution. The ban specifically targets key boxes installed on public property, including street furniture, road signs, gates, light poles, and other structures. Property owners who don’t comply with the new regulations face fines between €100 and €400, plus additional costs for removal. The city government emphasizes that these devices represent an unauthorized use of public space for private commercial gain, as owners have never obtained proper permits or paid the appropriate fees for occupying public areas.

The decision didn’t come out of nowhere – Milan follows in the footsteps of other major Italian tourist destinations like Florence, Bologna, Rome, and Venice, which have already implemented similar bans. The movement against key boxes reflects broader concerns about overtourism and the changing character of historic Italian neighborhoods. In Florence, authorities passed a resolution last February requiring removal within just 10 days, while Rome launched a comprehensive removal operation throughout the city. The Italian Ministry of Interior has even made in-person check-ins mandatory for accommodation facilities, citing serious public safety concerns. Officials worry that self-check-in methods make it difficult to properly identify and track guests, creating potential security risks that could be particularly problematic during high-profile events like the upcoming Jubilee 2025, which is expected to bring millions of additional visitors to Italian cities.

The legal battle over key boxes has been intense and contentious. In May 2025, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) temporarily derailed enforcement efforts by annulling a government circular that required in-person identification and banned key boxes. The court found the measures disproportionate and inadequately justified on security grounds. However, the victory for short-term rental operators was short-lived. In November 2025, Italy’s Council of State overturned the TAR decision, confirming that in-person guest identification requirements are valid and that self-check-in via key boxes remains prohibited unless hosts implement alternative visual verification methods. This legal framework has empowered cities like Milan to move forward with confidence that their regulations will withstand judicial scrutiny.

Beyond legal and administrative concerns, the proliferation of key boxes has sparked passionate grassroots opposition throughout Italy. In Rome’s historic Trastevere neighborhood, frustrated residents have taken matters into their own hands, with some boxes being sabotaged, covered with protest stickers, or photographed and posted on social media as symbols of overtourism’s impact. These citizen actions reflect deep anxieties about gentrification, as long-term residents witness their communities transform into tourist zones with skyrocketing rents and disappearing local businesses. Similar grassroots movements have emerged in the central districts of Florence, Venice, and Milan, where citizen groups actively report suspicious key boxes, organize removal campaigns, create online petitions, and hold awareness events demanding stronger municipal oversight of short-term rentals.

The key box controversy represents just one facet of Italy’s complex relationship with tourism. While the industry remains vital to the national economy, many communities are struggling to balance economic benefits with quality of life for permanent residents. The explosive growth of platforms like Airbnb has transformed housing markets in historic centers, with many apartment buildings now primarily occupied by rotating tourists rather than local families. Municipal governments face increasing pressure to regulate this market more effectively, with key boxes becoming a visible symbol of concerns about public space, safety, and community preservation. For property owners who have invested in the short-term rental market, these new regulations may require significant operational adjustments, potentially including hiring staff for in-person check-ins or investing in alternative technologies like smart locks with remote verification capabilities.

As Milan prepares to implement its ban in January 2026, the city has given property owners a thirty-day grace period to voluntarily remove their key boxes before enforcement begins. This approach mirrors strategies used in other cities, offering a transitional period before more aggressive removal operations commence. The ban represents part of a broader European trend toward tighter regulation of short-term rentals, with cities from Barcelona to Amsterdam implementing various restrictions. For travelers visiting Italy’s beautiful cities, these changes may mean slightly less convenient check-in procedures, but supporters argue they’ll help preserve the authentic character that attracts visitors in the first place. As Italy continues balancing tourism demands with community preservation, the humble key box has unexpectedly become a powerful symbol in the ongoing conversation about sustainable tourism and urban livability in some of the world’s most treasured historic centers.