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Ireland: Dublin City Council has voted to ban lockboxes used for short-term rentals on public structures, with enforcement set to begin on 14 April 2025.
The measure prohibits key storage boxes attached to street poles, bike stands, and other public infrastructure, amid concerns over their visual impact and safety risks. Property owners will be given six weeks to remove the boxes before the council takes action.
Lockboxes have become a common sight in Dublin, particularly around short-term rental properties.
They enable property owners to provide a key to the renter without needing to meet them in person. While many are placed on private buildings, a growing number have appeared on public property, prompting complaints from local residents and officials.
Sinn Féin councillor Ciarán Ó Meachair welcomed the move, calling lockboxes a “symbol” of the housing crisis and the dominance of corporate short-term rental platforms. The party described the move as a “step in the right direction” toward prioritising housing for long-term tenants.
Labour councillor Dermot Lacey, who first raised the issue three years ago, described the lockboxes as “dirty” and “unsightly”, also warning of potential trip hazards. While backing the ban, he stressed the need for a transition period, as some visitors may already have rental instructions requiring lockbox access.
Independent councillor Mannix Flynn criticised the decision to allow a six-week grace period, arguing that the lockboxes should be removed immediately.
Meanwhile, Green Party councillor Janet Horner urged officials to take a proactive approach, suggesting lockboxes should be cut off with clippers or angle grinders as soon as the ban takes effect.
Acting executive manager Brendan O’Brien confirmed that the council will begin removing reported lockboxes after 14 April.
With enforcement set to begin in April, landlords and short-term rental operators in Dublin will need to find alternative ways for guest check-ins to comply with the new rules.
Other cities across Europe, particularly in Italy and France, have also taken measures to ban Airbnb-style lockboxes. Last month, the local government in Florence ordered the removal of self check-in lockboxes at holiday rental properties, while Rome, Venice, Paris and Marseille have also adopted similar strategies.
