Fire safety for hotels, B&Bs, guest rooms and holiday homes in Italy in 2026: the 25-bed threshold, the SCIA and extinguishers

Updated: 10 November 2026

Italian fire-safety rules for guest accommodation change with the number of beds. We read the hotel guide by the Rimini Fire Brigade command, the decrees of 9 April 1994 and 14 July 2015, INAIL's 2023 handbook on vertical technical rule V.5, the text of Decree-Law 145/2023 as passed by the Senate and the Tourism Ministry's page on the CIN. Several official texts (the consolidated texts on the Fire Brigade website, Normattiva) would not open: we read copies published by others and say so. Links are at the end. Where we could not confirm something, we say so. This is not legal or technical advice: for your own case, ask a qualified fire-safety engineer or your provincial Fire Brigade command.

The short answer

In November 2026, under the rules we read:

More than 25 beds: the property is activity 66 in Annex I of DPR 151/2011. Before opening you file a fire-safety SCIA with the provincial Fire Brigade command, and renew compliance every 5 years.
Up to 25 beds: no SCIA to the Fire Brigade, but the minimum measures of Title III of DM 9 April 1994 still apply (extinguishers, properly built systems, safe evacuation, guest instructions).
Technical rule: hotels above 25 beds choose between DM 9 April 1994 and the Fire Prevention Code (DM 3 August 2015) with rule V.5. They are alternatives: you follow one in full.
Tourist and short lets (with a CIN): every unit needs working detectors for combustible gas and carbon monoxide and extinguishers, one per 200 m² and at least one per floor (DL 145/2023, art. 13-ter(7)). Fine of 600 to 6,000 euros per breach.
Extinguishers: periodic checks at intervals of no more than six months (DM 1994, point 14.1) and maintenance by qualified technicians (DM 1 September 2021).

The 25-bed threshold and the SCIA

DPR 151/2011 splits activity 66 into three categories:

Category A, 26 to 50 beds: a SCIA before opening is enough; the Fire Brigade may carry out spot checks within 60 days.
Category B, 51 to 100 beds: the command must first assess the project (art. 3), then you file the SCIA.
Category C, more than 100 beds: project assessment, SCIA and an inspection; if it goes well the command issues the fire prevention certificate.
For all of them: compliance renewal every 5 years (art. 5).
The Rimini Fire Brigade guide confirms that below 25 beds a property is not subject to their control. We did not read in an official source the full Annex I list of property types (hotels, B&Bs, holiday hostels, agriturismo lodging and others): ask your engineer whether yours is on it.

Which technical rule: DM 1994 or the Code with V.5

Properties with more than 25 beds have two routes:

DM 9 April 1994, the traditional rule, updated for existing properties by DM 6 October 2003.
The Fire Prevention Code (DM 3 August 2015, annex replaced by DM 18 October 2019) with vertical technical rule V.5, approved by DM 9 August 2016 and updated by DM 14 February 2020.
According to INAIL's 2023 handbook the two routes are «alternative, not complementary»: you cannot mix them.
For 26 to 50 beds, properties existing on 23 August 2015 can also use DM 14 July 2015 (Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 170 of 24 July 2015), with simplified provisions.
Existing hotels in the special upgrade plan: according to certifico.com, Law 15/2025 extended the deadline to 31 December 2026, with a partial SCIA by 31 December 2025. We did not read this in the Gazzetta Ufficiale: if it applies to you, check with your engineer now.

Properties with up to 25 beds

Title III of DM 9 April 1994 asks for little, but it does ask:

Structures with fire resistance of at least REI 30 and systems built to proper standards.
Safe evacuation of guests in an emergency.
Extinguishers: point 11.2 says that for properties of up to twenty-five beds installing extinguishers alone is enough, one per 200 m² or fraction, at least one per floor, minimum rating 13A-89B.
Safety signs, instructions displayed at the entrance and in every room, periodic tests of fire-fighting equipment.
There is no decree for properties «up to 50 beds» in general: DM 14 July 2015 covers those with more than 25 and up to 50. Rule V.5 contains some measures for buildings with fewer than 25 beds (para. V.5.5).
If your B&B or guest rooms are not run as a business, which of these rules applies also depends on the regional classification: not confirmed.

Holiday homes and tourist lets: gas, carbon monoxide and extinguishers

DL 145/2023, art. 13-ter(7) (converted by Law 191/2023):

It covers homes let for tourist purposes or as short lets, however they are run.
If you let as a business, the units must also meet the system safety requirements of national and regional law.
«In any case» every unit must have working devices to detect combustible gas and carbon monoxide.
Portable extinguishers that meet the standards, accessible and visible, one per 200 m² of floor or fraction and at least one per floor; the type follows point 4.4 of Annex I of DM 3 September 2021.
Fine: 600 to 6,000 euros for each breach found (para. 9). The CIN has been mandatory since 1 January 2025 (Tourism Ministry).
A set of FAQs published by a municipality specifies a 13A extinguisher with at least 6 kg or 6 litres, detectors installed under DM 37/2008 with an alarm, and checks under standard UNI 9994-1. We could not confirm these are the Ministry's official FAQs.

Extinguishers: a check every six months

What to keep in order:

DM 9 April 1994 (point 14.1) requires periodic tests of fire-fighting equipment at intervals of no more than six months and a register of checks.
DM 1 September 2021 (in force since 25 September 2022) requires checks and maintenance by qualified maintenance technicians and an up-to-date register.
The six-monthly periodic check is the one set by standard UNI 9994-1, which we did not read: ask your technician for the tag and report of every visit.
Keep the register and reports at hand: the Fire Brigade or municipal inspectors will ask for them.

Tuscany and Campania

Fire-safety rules are national:

We found no specific fire-safety requirements in Tuscany's tourism law (LR 61/2024) or regulation 47/R/2025, nor in Campania. That does not rule out the municipality or region asking for extra documents with the tourism SCIA.
To open a B&B or guest rooms in Tuscany or Campania, see our guide /open-bed-and-breakfast-guest-rooms-holiday-home-tuscany-campania-scia-cin-2026.
On the CIN: guide /italy-cin-national-identification-code-2026.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a B&B in Italy with fewer than 25 beds need a fire-safety SCIA?

No: below 25 beds the property is not a regulated activity under DPR 151/2011. The minimum measures of DM 9 April 1994 still apply (extinguishers, proper systems, instructions) and, if you let it as a tourist let, the detectors and extinguishers of DL 145/2023.

How many extinguishers does an Italian holiday home need?

One per 200 square metres of floor or fraction, with at least one per floor, in an accessible and visible place (DL 145/2023, art. 13-ter(7)). Working gas and carbon monoxide detectors are also required.

How often must extinguishers be checked in Italy?

DM 9 April 1994 requires periodic tests at intervals of no more than six months, recorded in a register; DM 1 September 2021 entrusts checks and maintenance to qualified technicians.

Sources

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