Law & Regulations — 🇮🇹 Italy

Sanpaolesi proposed creating a motorhome stopover area in every Italian municipality to capture growth in European touring tourism. The initiative is aimed at developing tourism infrastructure. The report was published on 17 October 2026.

A hearing before the regional administrative court (TAR) has been scheduled for 21 October to decide on the legality of reopening the Conero campsite in Portonovo. A 32-page appeal filed in September by a local resident seeks to annul all administrative acts and the single regional authorisation (PAUR) that unblocked works after about 16 years of litigation. The procedure, reactivated in recent months, now risks being halted again. The campsite previously opened in 2010 but was closed a year later for similar reasons. The cooperative's leadership aims to reopen the site in June 2027, but work has been postponed pending the court's decision.

Monza's City Council approved a motion by Paolo Piffer to create a public equipped motorhome parking area with camper service. Mayor Paolo Pilotto supported the proposal, noting that a city of 120,000 residents needs accommodation for motorhome travelers. Monza previously had the Santa Maria delle Selve campsite with over 200 pitches, which closed between 2018 and 2019. The new area, intended for 20–30 motorhomes, is to include grey and black water disposal, drinking water supply, and electrical hookups. Management could be municipal or concessioned.

The Reggio Calabria court annulled the preventive seizure order for a 1,280-square-metre area in Contrada Cardara, Brancaleone, used for motorhome parking. The area was seized on 21 August during a Guardia di Finanza inspection. By order of 30 September, the panel ordered the immediate return of the property; the seizure was lifted on 3 October.

In Montebelluna, two caravans used as permanent housing have been classified as illegal construction and referred to prosecutors. The municipal police report for September was sent to the public prosecutor's office, the president of the Veneto regional government, the provincial president and the Ministry of Public Works; the documents are confidential and owners are identified only by initials. In August and September, caravans and public order disturbances were reported on Via Sansovino and Via Groppa.

A court in Vallo della Lucania ordered the preventive seizure of an 8,000-square-metre campsite in Palinuro, in the municipality of Centola, Cilento. Investigators found that the site had never held any authorisation for urban planning, landscaping, tourist accommodation, occupation of state maritime land or disposal of liquid waste and sludge. In July, eight mobile homes under construction, connected to water and sewage lines, were seized at the same campsite. The area is subject to landscape protection under the Cilento coastal territorial plan.

Lawyers Emanuela Beacco and Gabriele Ballabio, acting for Legambiente Basso Sebino, Italia Nostra Valle Camonica and residents of Via Nistoi, have asked the municipality of Pisogne to immediately suspend work on a new motorhome area on Via Nistoi. The request is based on a September 2026 geological report by Sonia Botticchio and Fabio Fenaroli, which identifies flood and hydrogeological risks: the site was affected by severe floods in 2000, 2004 and 2008 with water levels between 50 cm and one metre, and has a 20-year return period for flooding. The geologists conclude the project is incompatible with the hydraulic and hydrogeological requirements of the PAI and PGRA plans, and note that the municipal PGT has not yet incorporated updated provisions. If work continues, the signatories reserve the right to take administrative and judicial action, including claims for damages.

In Matera, the motorhome parking area on Via Carlo Levi, 900 metres from the Sassi, remains free of charge, while similar facilities in Cesenatico are paid. Local resident Antonio Serravezza points to lost municipal revenue, as the site is fenced, lit, equipped with a picnic area and incurs daily costs for cleaning, electricity and maintenance. In Cesenatico the parking is automated: entry via barrier, maximum stay 72 hours, payment on exit by credit or debit card, with a rate of 1 euro per hour and 7 euro per day. According to the complainant, introducing a similar system in Matera would generate income to be reinvested in cleaning and security of the area.

Under decree-law 162 of 2027, the vehicle ownership tax exemption for individuals applies only to passenger cars with engine power not exceeding 80 kW. Trucks in category N1 and motorhomes are not eligible for this relief, even if their power is below 80 kW. The benefit applies to payments due in 2027.

In May 2026, Michel Letraveler received a letter from Italy demanding payment for a toll he allegedly failed to pay in 2020. The amount requested is €119.36, comprising €91 for the toll plus fees. The letter came from Nivi, a debt collection agency acting on behalf of a motorway operator. Michel claims he already paid €80.50 at the time and provided bank statements as proof. In Italy, toll debts can be subject to a statute of limitations of up to ten years.

Italian caravan associations have proposed raising the speed limit for car and caravan combinations to 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on extra-urban roads. The initiative coincides with the Salone del Camper in Parma. Current Italian limits are lower than in most EU countries. The proposal is backed by InCaravan Club Italia, ACIT and the Tuttocaravan forum, citing modern safety systems such as hitch stabilisers and electronic sway control. Parliamentary and government review is awaited.

The municipality of Dogliani has published regulations for the motorhome area in Piazza d'Armi, inaugurated on 3 July and designed to accommodate up to twelve vehicles simultaneously. Access is permitted exclusively to motorhomes as defined by current legislation; parking is expressly prohibited for cars, motorcycles, unconverted vans, caravans, tents, vehicles without self-contained sanitary facilities, vehicles with 'nautical' discharge systems, and vehicles exceeding 35 quintals or the marked spaces. The maximum continuous stay is 96 hours from the moment of arrival, after which the area must be vacated and a minimum interval of 72 hours observed before re-entry. Loading and unloading services operate from 1 April to 31 October; during the winter period from 1 November to 31 March they may be temporarily suspended to prevent frost damage.

The Fiumicino City Council unanimously approved the creation of municipal equipped areas for temporary motorhome parking. The measure aims to regulate camper flows and combat wild parking.

The Regional Administrative Court of Umbria (Tar) has rejected an interim injunction filed by residents seeking to suspend works on a planned motorhome area in Montoro. The court noted that the precautionary request lacks the required urgency, as the municipality of Narni had already ordered a halt to any work until the landscape compatibility assessment is completed. The plaintiffs, represented by lawyers Fabrizio Garzuglia and Giovanni Ranalli, plan to file additional grounds for appeal, including against the tourism ministry's refusal to relocate the project.

In Italy, a B licence allows driving motorhomes with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg. However, the actual weight when loaded with passengers, water and luggage must be considered. Additional restrictions apply to new drivers, and from 2029 new EU rules will allow driving motorhomes up to 4,250 kg after specific training.

A reader of Trieste.news responded to an article about the growing number of campervans on the Karst, stating that parking a campervan is legal if conditions of Article 185 of the Highway Code are met. He emphasized that overnighting inside the vehicle is not camping if rules are not violated, and called for enforcement of violations rather than new bans.

The Ancona city council has extended the concession for the management of the camper area in Posatora until December 2027, granting the Campeggiatori Club Adriatico association a 90% reduction in the annual fee, from over 30,000 euros to about 3,022 euros plus VAT. The association covers maintenance costs, including green areas, electrical systems, and insurance. The temporary extension ensures service continuity while the municipality decides on the future use of the 8,200 sqm site.

In Italy, an unfolded awning or table on a motorhome can be considered camping, leading to fines up to 500 euros. In Spain, from October 1, 2026, motorhomes will be treated as passenger cars under certain conditions. In France, overnight stays are allowed for up to seven days, but only without signs of camping.

Article 185 of the Italian Highway Code allows motorhomes to park in the same spaces as other vehicles, provided the vehicle remains in its driving configuration. Setting up awnings, chairs, or external equipment turns parking into camping, subject to local regulations. Overnight stays inside the motorhome are not considered camping as long as the vehicle does not occupy extra space or discharge waste. Municipalities may impose parking restrictions, but these must be justified and clearly signposted.

Stefano Censini, national president of the Unione Club Amici (UCA), denounced that Taranto has lacked a modern, equipped motorhome parking area for 20 years. He stated that authorities complain about improper parking but fail to provide a regulated space. Censini noted that similar facilities are built quickly in other cities, while in Taranto the designated site is used for events. UCA proposes a year-round parking area that could also serve as a support point for civil protection.