Florence Removes 187 Keyboxes in UNESCO Area; Fines to Follow

The Florence Municipal Police have completed the removal of 187 keyboxes from the city’s UNESCO-designated historic center, enforcing a ban approved by the City Council on February 10. The initiative, aimed at preserving urban decorum and ensuring public safety, is part of a broader effort to regulate short-term tourist rentals and maintain a more livable city.

At the time of the ban’s approval, 380 keyboxes had been identified within the UNESCO area. Over half of these were voluntarily removed by rental operators during the grace period granted by the municipal administration before official enforcement began. The regulation also prohibits the use of voice amplifiers by tour guides, aligning with the city’s sustainability plan for tourism, introduced four months ago by Mayor Sara Funaro and Tourism Councilor Jacopo Vicini.

“The Municipal Police successfully carried out the removal within a month, fulfilling one of the key commitments of Mayor Funaro and the entire administration,” said Jacopo Vicini, Councilor for Economic Development and Tourism. “Thanks to the meticulous cataloging of each removed keybox, authorities can now proceed with checks and issue fines to those who failed to comply voluntarily. Meanwhile, removals in other districts are already underway, starting with areas where reports have been filed.”

The enforcement effort began on February 25 in the presence of Mayor Funaro, ten days after the ordinance came into effect. Police teams, supported by technical staff, systematically cleared keyboxes from doorways, historic facades, railings, and urban structures throughout the UNESCO area. Officers conducted an average of 15 removals per day, initially focusing on main streets before addressing secondary roads. As the operation neared completion, the number of daily removals decreased due to the dwindling number of remaining keyboxes.

Now that the cataloging process is complete, the Municipal Police will begin investigations leading to fines for non-compliant property owners. Meanwhile, removals have commenced beyond the UNESCO zone, with four keyboxes already taken down in Via Ponte alle Mosse and additional operations planned in other districts based on incoming reports.