Florence is planning a major expansion of restrictions on new short-term tourist rentals, extending a ban beyond its UNESCO-listed historic centre, in a new attempt to ease housing pressure in one of Italy's most visited cities.
Reuters – The measure, which Mayor Sara Funaro has called a national first, is due to be presented to a city council committee on Wednesday, with the aim of securing approval in early June.
It will prevent the creation of new short-term tourist lets across about 16 square kilometres (6 square miles) of the city for two years, nearly tripling the total number of homes covered by the ban to more than 103,000, from 35,593 at present.
The proposal does not reduce the number of existing short-term rentals, but would stop new ones being activated once it takes effect. Airbnb did not immediately comment on the plan.
