In a bid to combat the mounting challenges of overtourism, the Italian city of Florence has issued a mandate requiring the removal of self check-in keyboxes from vacation rental properties by February 25.
This new regulation is part of the local government’s broader effort to mitigate tourism’s impact on the historic city.
Keyboxes, widely utilized by short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, allow guests to check in independently, eliminating the need for face-to-face key exchanges and check-ins with property owners. However, these devices have drawn criticism for both aesthetic and security concerns.
Florence Mayor Sara Funaro emphasized the city’s commitment to enforcing the ban, stating in a recent television interview, "Next week we will go...to check where the ban on keyboxes is not respected, and then we will remove them." Noncompliant property owners could face fines of up to 400 euros ($417.20), according to city officials.
Other renowned Italian tourist hotspots, including Rome and Venice, have also implemented measures to curb visitor numbers as locals voice concerns over affordable housing shortages and hoteliers report that vacation rentals are impacting their business.
At the national level, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has already introduced regulations requiring in-person guest identification upon check-in for short-term rentals.
Massimo Torelli, spokesperson for the "Let's Save Florence to Live in It" campaign told Reuters that his activist group had been marking the check-in boxes for removal by painting them with a red cross.
He said the boxes are "everywhere, on the bicycle racks and on the street-light poles,” adding that, “Florence is dying of uncontrolled tourism."
Torelli expressed hope that this new policy would contribute to reducing the number of short-term rental apartments in the Renaissance-era city, which currently stands at approximately 15,000. Ideally, he envisions a drop to around 7,000-8,000, making way for more long-term housing options for residents.
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