Milan Joins Florence, Rome, Venice, and Bologna in a Historic Crackdown on Key-Boxes for Short-Term Rentals in Italy – Here’s How It Will Change Travel Forever!

Published on December 6, 2025

In a major shift for Italy’s tourism and short-term rental industry, cities like Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Bologna are introducing bans on self-check-in key-boxes for short-term rentals. These key-boxes, which were once a convenient solution for both hosts and guests, are now under fire. Starting from 2025, these cities are enforcing new rules that aim to address overtourism, protect public spaces, and improve safety.

The change is set to impact both travellers and hosts, who will need to rethink how they manage bookings and arrivals. Here’s everything you need to know about this sweeping regulatory change across Italy’s most famous cities.

Why Are Italian Cities Banning Self-Check-In Key-Boxes?

Italian cities are known for their rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant tourist scenes. But with the rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, these cities have started to face some significant challenges. Key-boxes — the small metal boxes often attached to gates, lamp posts, or walls for guests to pick up keys — have become a symbol of these problems.

Overtourism and Housing Pressure
The growing number of tourists in cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, and Bologna has created a strain on local housing markets. Many residents have expressed frustration that short-term rentals are driving up rent prices and taking away homes from locals. By restricting key-boxes, cities aim to reduce the number of purely tourist-focused rentals and encourage more permanent, community-based housing solutions.

Protecting Urban Aesthetics
These key-boxes, often found on public-facing structures like fences and signposts, have become a visual eyesore in many historical areas. For cities with centuries-old architecture, this clutter can damage the beauty and charm that attract millions of visitors every year. Banning key-boxes is one way local governments are working to preserve the integrity of these iconic spaces.

Safety and Security Concerns
Another reason for this crackdown is to improve public safety. With key-boxes being easily accessible and sometimes unmonitored, there is concern over who is entering rental properties. Local authorities believe it’s important to verify guest identities and ensure that rentals meet safety standards. By eliminating the self-check-in system, these cities are aiming to better control who enters their neighborhoods.

How the Ban Will Affect Tourists

More Hands-On Check-Ins
For tourists, the main change will be the loss of self-check-in convenience. Instead of arriving at a rental and easily accessing the keys from a lock-box, guests will now need to coordinate with hosts for in-person key exchanges. This could mean more direct communication and planned check-in times.

Reduced Flexibility for Late Arrivals
Late-night arrivals, or those with unpredictable schedules, may face difficulties with in-person check-ins. Without key-boxes, guests will have to ensure they meet the host or arrange for another way to collect keys. This may lead to delays and less flexibility for travellers.

Improved Accountability and Security
On the plus side, these in-person interactions will likely make it easier for cities to ensure that tourists are staying in officially registered properties. With better guest identification, the risk of illegal or unsafe stays can be reduced. Guests can feel more secure knowing that hosts are following the rules and ensuring proper check-ins.

What Hosts Need to Know About the New Regulations

Mandatory Removal of Key-Boxes
Hosts in Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Bologna must remove any self-check-in key-boxes on public-facing structures. Those who fail to comply may face fines ranging from €100 to €400, plus the potential for the municipality to remove the devices at the host’s expense.

Adapting to New Check-In Methods
Hosts will need to shift to alternative check-in methods, which could include meeting guests in person or providing access via smart locks or internal key safes. These methods may be more secure but could require additional effort, especially for hosts managing multiple properties. This could lead to an increase in operational costs.

Increased Operational Burden
For hosts, the removal of key-boxes could mean more time and effort spent on guest management. In-person check-ins will require hosts to be more flexible with their schedules, potentially leading to greater administrative work. Some hosts may even reconsider whether to continue offering short-term rentals due to these new challenges.

A Potential Shift Towards Long-Term Rentals
With the increased burden of managing self-check-ins, some hosts may choose to transition their properties to long-term rentals, which offer more stability and less hassle. This could be a double-edged sword for cities: while it may reduce the number of short-term rentals, it could also contribute to the housing shortage for tourists.

How These Cities Are Enforcing the Ban

Milan’s Strict Regulations
In Milan, the key-box ban will take effect in January 2026. Hosts will have a 30-day window to remove any lock-boxes attached to public-facing structures. Failure to comply with the new rules will result in fines ranging from €100 to €400, along with potential costs for the municipal authorities to remove the devices.

Florence’s Quick Enforcement
Florence has taken a more immediate approach, with key-boxes needing to be removed by 25 February 2025. Any failure to comply will lead to hefty fines, and enforcement will be swift. Florence, known for its Renaissance heritage, has long been a target of critics concerned about overtourism, and the city is taking a firm stand on this issue.

Rome, Venice, and Bologna’s Ongoing Action
Rome, Venice, and Bologna have also taken steps to remove key-boxes from public spaces. These cities are working to ensure that only properly registered properties can operate, which means eliminating key-boxes as a method of self-check-in. However, enforcement has been less consistent, and some hosts have challenged the regulations in court.

The Future of Short-Term Rentals in Italy

A Shift Towards More Regulated Tourism
The ban on self-check-in key-boxes is part of a broader push for more regulated tourism in Italy. As the country deals with the pressures of overtourism, cities are increasingly adopting measures to better control the number of short-term rentals, preserve public spaces, and ensure guest safety.

Potential for Increased Hotel Bookings
As it becomes more difficult for travellers to access short-term rental properties via self-check-in, many tourists may opt to book hotels, where check-ins are more formal and regulated. This could lead to a shift in Italy’s tourism market, with more people choosing traditional accommodations over Airbnb-style rentals.

More Focus on Long-Term Rental Options
For hosts, there may be a growing trend toward long-term rentals, which face fewer regulations and don’t require in-person check-ins. As cities crack down on short-term rentals, these types of accommodations may become more popular.

A Safer and More Secure Experience for Tourists
For visitors, the changes could lead to a safer and more secure travel experience. With better checks on guest identification and more regulated rentals, tourists can feel more comfortable knowing they are staying in legitimate, properly managed properties. This may also reduce the risk of scams or illegal activity, giving tourists greater peace of mind during their stay.

Conclusion: A New Era for Italian Tourism and Rentals

The ban on self-check-in key-boxes in Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Bologna marks a significant shift in Italy’s approach to short-term rentals. As these cities take decisive action to curb overtourism, preserve housing for locals, and protect urban aesthetics, both tourists and hosts will need to adjust.

For tourists, it means a shift from flexible, self-managed stays to more coordinated, in-person check-ins. For hosts, it signals the end of the easy, automated check-in methods and the need for more management and oversight. As Italy grapples with the growing pressures of tourism, these regulatory changes are just one part of the broader effort to find a balance between welcoming visitors and preserving the integrity of its iconic cities.

This move is setting a precedent for other European cities to follow, and it will be interesting to see how these regulations evolve and impact the future of tourism in Italy. The key for all involved — from guests to hosts to local governments — is adaptation. Those who embrace the new rules can continue to thrive in Italy’s changing tourism landscape.