Florence’s municipal police are currently carrying out the enforced removal of keyboxes and electronic keypads across the city. This operation follows a recently introduced regulation by Mayor Sara Funaro and Economic Development Councillor Jacopo Vicini, which bans these devices throughout the city’s historic center.
The inspections, which began near Palazzo Vecchio, have already targeted streets such as Via dei Cimatori, Via Lambertesca, and Via del Corno. Officers, equipped with shears and screwdrivers, are removing the keyboxes in full view of passersby and tourists. Once a device is taken down, authorities record the address to identify the property owner or manager, who will then face a €400 fine.
According to municipal police estimates, at least 400 keyboxes remain in the historic center, despite a ten-day grace period that allowed owners to voluntarily remove them before enforcement began.
The Background: Florence’s Crackdown on Short-Term Rental Keyboxes
The removal of keyboxes is part of a broader initiative to regulate short-term rentals and mitigate the impact of mass tourism. The city had previously announced that, starting February 21, keyboxes and coded keypads would be banned under a new ordinance aimed at improving public safety and preserving urban decorum.
For tourists, this means that checking into short-term rentals now requires meeting the host or a designated person in person, ensuring proper identity verification upon arrival. Meanwhile, property owners who relied on keyboxes have had to remove them or risk fines and forced removal by municipal authorities.
Additionally, Florence has introduced other measures to regulate tourism, such as banning the use of voice amplifiers by tour guides. Now, groups of more than eight people must use wireless audio systems with headphones to reduce noise pollution, with fines of up to €160 for non-compliance.
A Step Toward Sustainable Tourism
These regulations reflect Florence’s commitment to balancing tourism with local livability. By enforcing stricter controls on short-term rentals, the city aims to ensure that tourism remains sustainable while safeguarding the character of its historic neighborhoods. Hosts are also required to continue registering all guests with local authorities within 24 hours of arrival, reinforcing security measures.
With these ongoing keybox removals, Florence is taking another firm step toward reshaping how short-term rentals operate in the city, prioritizing community well-being and the preservation of its cultural heritage.
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