On May 26, 2026, the Florence City Council voted to extend the ban on short-term tourist rentals (via Airbnb and similar platforms) beyond the UNESCO-listed historic center. The ban now covers the neighboring districts of San Jacopopino, Statuto and part of Oltrarno. In total, about 67,000 housing units are being added, and the total number of apartments under the ban exceeds 100,000.
The Mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro, called this decision "the first on a national scale" aimed simultaneously at excessive tourism and an acute shortage of housing. The initial 2023 ban has already frozen new licenses in the historic core, as demand from foreigners has inflated rental rates, making housing unaffordable for local families and students.
Landlords who are already active can work under current permits until May 31, 2028. After that, a new licensing system is likely to be introduced. Long-term rental (over 30 days) the ban does not apply, which may switch investors to the corporate and student segments.
For foreign specialists and multinational companies, this means direct consequences: the supply is declining, and the cost of daily rent may rise. HR services are advised to start looking for housing in advance and make higher deposits.Other Italian cities, including Rome, Milan and Venice, are closely following Florence's experiment and may follow suit if the ban withstands expected lawsuits from homeowner associations.
Source: VisaHQ
