What is the CIR?
The CIR i(codice Identificativo Regionale) is a mandatory regional identification code, a unique alphanumeric code assigned by each Region for any property being offered as a short‑term tourist rental in Italy.
It applies to both private hosts and professional operators, and most regions require it before advertising or accepting guests.
The obligation varies by Italian Region, but in general it applies to:
Private individuals who rent:
- Entire apartments for tourist rents, (locazioni turistiche)
- Short‑term rentals (Airbnb, Booking, etc.)
- Rooms or portions of a property
Professional operators providing services as :
- B&Bs
- Guesthouses / affittacamere (rent a room)
- Case vacanza (Holiday Homes)
- CAV (Case e Appartamenti per Vacanze)
- Hotels and all other accommodation structures
Regions such as Lombardy, Lazio, Sicily, Campania, Molise explicitly require the CIR for all tourist rentals. the issue of a CIR is generally a prerequisite to the issue of a CIN (see below).
- You Need the CIR:
Before advertising the property online (Airbnb, Booking, social media, websites). - Before hosting the first guest.
- Some regions require it within a fixed number of days from starting the activity (e.g., Lazio: 60 days).
Failure to display the CIR can lead to administrative fines, often significant.
How do I apply for a CIR
Procedures differ by Region, but the typical steps are:
Ensure the property meets safety and hygiene requirements
Regions may require:
- Gas and CO detectors
- Fire extinguisher
- Safety compliance declarations
File the required notice with the local municipality
This is usually via:
- SUAP (Sportello Unico Attività Produttive)
- Impresa in un Giorno portal
- A regional tourism portal
- Depending on the type of activity:
- SCIA (Segnalazione Certificata di Inizio Attività) for structured accommodation
- CIA or simple communication for private tourist rentals
3. The Region assigns the CIR
The Region or Province generates the code in its tourism database (e.g., ROSS1000 in Lombardy).
Display the CIR everywhere
- On all online listings
- On promotional materials
- Physically inside or outside the property as required.
What is the CIN?
The CIN (Codice Identificativo Nazionale) for short-term rentals is a requirement introduced by Article 13 of Decree Law No. 145 of December 18, 2023 (known as the “Decreto Anticipi”). This law mandates the assignment of a National Identification Code (CIN) for all residential units used for tourist rental contracts, including short-term rentals under Article 4 of Decree Law No. 50 of April 24, 2017 (which includes rentals through platforms like Airbnb etc.). The CIN also applies to hotel and non-hotel tourist accommodation.
The CIN represents a significant change for Italy’s short-term rental and tourism industry, as it will replace the existing regional identification codes. The CIN and related property data will be entered into a national database of all tourist accommodations in Italy. This national database is designed to improve data integration at both local and national levels, facilitate synergies between authorities, and enhance monitoring and enforcement against illegal rentals.
Before applying for the CIN you will need to obtain the CIR. The CIN application can generally be made online but requires insertion of the CIN along with the owner/landlords details.
Once obtained, the CIN must be displayed at every rental property and on all publicity for the letting of the same. Registered operators will be able to use the CIN to view information about the properties they manage, update information, and report any issues.
The obligation to obtain and display the CIN will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Failure to comply with this requirement could result in fines ranging from €800 to €8,000 for not having a CIN and €500 to €5,000 for failing to display it on the premises.
Further Information/Assistance/Support
As mentioned in order to obtain the CIN, it is necessary to already be in possession of a CIR, (the Regional Code). if you need support with CIR, rather than using attorneys like us in Milan, the best approach here is to seek assistance from a local “geometra” (surveyor) or cpa (“commercialista”)
Alternatively, we are seeing many “co-host” services starting to be offered. The Italian Airbnb website has listing of co-hosts and a google search for your “Comune + cohost” may also show some providers. Co-hosts are on the whole landlords of their own properties, and having gone through the bureaucratic procedures, are willing to help others (for a fee). They can also help with other aspects of renting an Italian property, such a reporting guest details to the Police Service, support with check in, check out, cleaning, tourist taxes and other bureaucratic obligations involved with renting a property in Italy, involving a local cpa that can help with property ownership (IMU), income and refuse taxes as necessary.
If you have purchased recently, your real estate agent may also provide these services or point to someone who can.
Whilst we would be happy to quote for these services and for support with annual local property tax and income tax filings/payments, a local provider might prove a more cost effective solution.
If you are interested in this service or need more information, please contact us, and we will provide you with all the details you need to obtain your CIN. This blog post has more information on the tax and other obligations for landlords renting Italian property.
6 responses
How do I get a CIR for a property in Amantea, Calabria? what are the steps to register in a local commune? It’s been very frustrating trying to get a CIN.
There is no point trying to get a CIN (national code) without first a CIR (regional code) first. A Google search for e.g. “CIR affiti brevi Amantea” is a good starting point. We got a helpful AI response on Google (in Italian but you can translate to English via an online translator) explaining the steps. You can ask for professional help, but we suggest doing this locally, as there may be some local leg work to be done. Ask around: local family, friends and neighbours, online forums, the Comune itself, may be able to point to a professional e.g a real estate agent, a co-host, a CAF (citizens tax assistance center), a surveyor (geometra), accountant (commercialista) or attorney (avvocato) who can assist with that and the assistance you need will depend on local regs and procedures. Your Comune may be willing to give you more information and can also advise on steps and requirements for applying to register as resident.
We have had a villa in Magamadas Sardinina for almost 20 year and have rent it occasionally over some years and want to continue, we do not have a CIN yet but our contacting our local geometra who delt with the biulding of the villa to get advise but please confirm what service you can provide to get the CIN, we have our individual Codice Ficale.
we have previously taken some bookings from thro Vrbo.
steve woddhouse
You should speak to your Geometra about a CIR (in Regione Sardegna known as a “IUN”) – a unique identification code. Obtaining this code CIR is a prerequisite to obtaining a CIN – national identification code. More information on obtaining a IUN in Sardegna can be found here. Getting these codes depends on having an an Italian digital identity in order to access the public authority web portal, and for non Italian residents getting a digital identity is challenging. For that reason local assistance may be required. Your Geometra would be a good start and a google search or search of the the Airbnb web site contains details of people offering “co-hosting” services which may extend to assisting with getting you set up with the codes. Once you have the IUN you can then apply for the CIN via the Tourism Ministry web portal online. The CIN can be obtained without a digital identity.
And just as a reminder, if you are renting out real estate in Italy, then you are, on the whole, obliged to pay Italian income tax on the rental income whether you are resident or not, filing an annual tax return to report the income, along with the land registry official yield (“rendita catastale”) for the days in the tax year in which the property is not rented. The introduction of the regional and national codes is part of a move to ensure that landlords correctly report the income for tax purposes.
Hello,
We need an CIN number, but we do not know if we need a CIR to get the CIN.
We have two appartments for renting in Dicomano ( Toscany)
You did a need CIR – a regional code providing that the property meets the various requisites under (for the most part )local and regional rules. once you have that you can then apply for the CIN – the national code. We can also help with the CIR but because is depends on the characteristics of the property, getting local support e.g from a “geometra” or co-host” may be required, and at that stage it is just best to go ahead directly with the application for the CIR with local help. We could not find anything on the Comune di Dicomane’s website regarding compliance requirements for landlords renting property. The Comune di Firenze has some guidance here https://www.cittametropolitana.fi.it/turismo-2/turismo/strutture-ricettive/. The general red tape approach and associated jargon is not helpful, but it is, what it is. One of the main problems we are experiencing is that access to the various online portals set up to handle applications for a CIR, are accessible only via a digital ID (SPID ecc). Non Italian citizens/residents cannot, under current rules, obtain a digital ID and are therefore hampered in their applications. Applications for a CIN can be made without a Digital ID (as the authorities have realised that there are many non Italian citizens/residents renting out Italian properties they own( but this is not the case for CIR applications. If you are hampered by a lack of digital ID, you should keep documented evidence of this, in case of application of penalties for non compliance with the requirement to have a CIN.