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Bologna

Emilia-Romagna city banning external key-boxes on short-term rentals in its historic centre.

Last refreshed: 20 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why is Bologna banning Airbnb key-boxes rather than licences altogether?

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Common Questions
Does Bologna ban key-boxes on Airbnb properties?
Yes. Bologna bans external key-boxes (lockboxes) on short-term rental properties in its historic centre. The Italy 2026 Budget Law codified this local ban nationally for designated historic-centre municipalities.Source: Comune di Bologna / Italy 2026 Budget Law
How has Airbnb affected student housing in Bologna?
Bologna's city administration has linked STR growth to rising student accommodation costs, noting that short-term rentals competing for the same central properties displace students in a city with very high year-round student housing demand.Source: Comune di Bologna
What is the fine for a key-box on an Airbnb property in Bologna?
Milan introduced fines of €100 to €400 per offence for key-boxes under the Italy 2026 Budget Law's key-box ban, which codified Bologna's existing local ban. Specific Bologna-level penalties track the national framework.Source: Italy 2026 Budget Law

Background

Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna and home to one of Europe's oldest universities, is among the Italian cities that enacted an external key-box ban on short-term rental properties in its historic centre. The measure, subsequently codified in the Italy 2026 Budget Law, requires hosts to be present or use an alternative check-in method rather than lockboxes attached to facades — a policy driven by both heritage concerns and complaints about anonymous guest entry in densely populated historic streets .

Bologna has a resident population of approximately 400,000 and receives around 4 million tourists annually. Unlike Florence, Bologna has not enacted a full STR licence ban in its centre, opting instead for operational restrictions and enhanced CIN-registration enforcement. The city's Left-leaning administration has framed STR management as a housing-affordability issue, noting that short-term rental growth has displaced student accommodation in a city where student housing demand is exceptionally high.

The key-box ban is part of a wider municipal package that includes mandatory registration display inspections and higher tourist taxes in peak periods.