Politics · Italy · 16 hrs ago
Bologna plans zone-based limits on short-term rentals
Bologna plans to regulate short-term rentals by dividing the city into zones.
Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy says stricter limits would apply in areas where these rentals are most concentrated.
In parts of the city, they make up less than 2% of rentals, while the historic centre is at about 12% and some streets reach 25%.
The plan follows an Italian Constitutional Court ruling that struck down two parts of an Emilia-Romagna law on short-term rentals.
The court objected to rules that applied across the whole region and treated short-term rental operators differently from other tourist accommodation.
Bologna says its measures target specific areas under housing pressure and would also cover bed-and-breakfasts.
The city has approved a second planning change and intends to develop a regulation, taking the court’s observations into account.
Bologna plans to regulate short-term rentals through a city zoning system, with tighter limits in areas where rentals are most concentrated.
Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy said the city would proceed after Italy’s Constitutional Court struck down two articles of an Emilia-Romagna regional law on short-term rentals.
The city says its proposed measures would apply to short-term rentals and other non-hotel accommodation, and target specific areas facing housing pressure.
Bologna has approved a second urban-planning amendment and plans to draw up a regulation.
Clancy said short-term rentals account for about 12% of properties in the historic centre, reaching up to 25% on some streets.
- Who
- Bologna’s municipal government, represented by Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy.
- What
- The city plans zoning-based limits on short-term rentals, with tighter rules in areas where they are most concentrated.
- When
- The plans were discussed after the Constitutional Court ruling reported on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- Bologna, Italy.
- Why
- The city says it wants to regulate short-term rentals in areas experiencing housing pressure before the phenomenon becomes unmanageable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We are just trying to regulate a phenomenon before it becomes unmanageable
We want a new regulation that looks at the saturation of the various zones and therefore differentiates the number of short-term rentals according to individual areas of the city
In the historic centre we are at a much higher figure, about 12%, and on some streets it even reaches 25%
We have approved the second urban-planning amendment and now we would like to draw up a regulation
Bologna approved a second urban-planning amendment.
Bologna said it would proceed with its plans and examine the ruling’s observations when preparing a regulation.
Corriere della Sera published an interview with Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy about the city’s plans.
- Historic-centre short-term rental share
- About 12%
- Highest share on some streets
- Up to 25%
- Areas with a share below
- 2%
- Planned approach
- Zone-based limits, tighter in the most saturated areas
Sources
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