Milan Bans Check-In Boxes in Latest Overtourism Crackdown in Italy

Key lock boxes, commonly used for storing apartment keys for short-term rentals, have become a contentious issue in Italys urban centers. Seen by many locals as an eyesore, these boxes will now be prohibited in Milan following a city council vote on Thursday. The regulation is scheduled to take effect in January, with fines reaching up to 400 ($466) for any remaining boxes installed on building facades or near apartment doors.

Lock boxes have grown in popularity among holiday rental owners, allowing guests to check in independently by retrieving keys with a code. While Italy mandates face-to-face meetings between hosts and guests for short-term rentals at the national level, there has not been a comprehensive nationwide ban on these devices.

Florence became the first major Italian city to restrict key boxes earlier this year, citing their negative impact on city aesthetics and potential security risks. Milan's city council echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the proliferation of lock boxes disrupts urban design and can inconvenience residents.

Short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb are common across Italys tourist-heavy areas. Cities such as Venice have introduced measures like entrance fees for day visitors, generating over 5 million in 2025, but the challenges of overcrowding and the strain on daily life persist. Last year, Italys most visited cultural sites received over 60 million paying tourists, exceeding the nations population for the first time.

Other attractions have also taken steps to limit visitor numbers. Pompeii, historically drawing around 36,000 daily visitors, introduced a cap of 20,000 last year to reduce congestion. The Vatican, meanwhile, anticipated approximately 32 million pilgrims in 2025 for the holy year, even before the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV.

Author: Harper Simmons