Rome: 10 days of closure of commercial activity for those who illegally occupy public land.

The union ordinance was signed today to combat illegal occupations of public land functional to commercial activity in the UNESCO Site more effectively.

This initiative was born from a proposal from the Department of Productive Activities in close collaboration and synergy with Municipality I and the Trade Commission. Its primary purpose is the restoration of compliance with current regulations, the safeguarding of the city's artistic and cultural heritage, as well as ensuring the equal usability of public spaces for all citizens. It is a necessary action to prepare the territory of the UNESCO Site to welcome millions of pilgrims on the occasion of the Jubilee Year. At the same time, we intend to protect entrepreneurs who operate ethically and in compliance with the rules, promoting a more harmonious and welcoming urban environment for everyone.

The ordinance mandates the managers of the competent offices of the Capitoline Administration to adopt the additional administrative sanction of closure of the business for a period of 10 days for activities that illegally occupy public land “for commercial purposes” referred to in the art. 3, paragraph 16 of Law no. 94/2009, or all occupations carried out with any artefact, structure or element that can be directly functionally connected to the sales or administration activity, such as tables, chairs, drawers containing furnishings for administration, displays for the sale of products, etc. .

The ordinance is based on current laws and regulations, including the Highway Code and the provisions of Law 94/2009. Its application will be managed by the Directors of the competent Offices of the Capitoline Administration in close collaboration with the Municipal Police. For catering activities, the closure order will be effective from the seventh day following notification. In the event of repeated violations, commercial activities will not be issued any public land concessions for the following two years, in addition to closure. Furthermore, for occupations of public land exceeding the authorized space, the sanctions provided for by current regulations will be applied, thus ensuring that all exercises respect the same rules.

In the period between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2024, the Local Police of Rome Capital detected a significant number of violations in the territory of the I Municipio Centro Storico:

• 498 violations pursuant to OS 14/2013, on undue occupation of public land
• 230 violations pursuant to art. 85 c. 2 lett. c) of Regional Law 22/2019 for totally abusive OSPs (supply activities)
• 840 violations pursuant to art. 85 c. 2 letter c bis) of Regional Law 22/2019 for unauthorized OSP expansion and non-conformity (supply activities)
• 769 violations pursuant to articles 23 and 24 of Resolution AC 21/2021 for totally or partially abusive occupations (businesses that do not fall within catering activities)
• 1973 violations pursuant to art. 20 of the Highway Code for occupation of roadway.

These data show that the phenomenon of illegal occupations is particularly widespread and problematic. In particular, the number of fines imposed for totally abusive OSPs is extremely close to that for abusive expansions of already authorized OSPs. This situation has made it necessary to tighten measures to ensure greater effectiveness in combating violations.

According to Mayor Roberto Gualtieri: “The common protection of urban decorum starts from respecting the minimum rules of coexistence. Through this measure we want promote an effort capable of protecting commercial operators who work honestly, guaranteeing fair competition, as well as the beauty and welcoming capacity of our city. The illegal occupations of public land by some commercial establishments are evidently incompatible with these objectives."

“This ordinance represents another fundamental step towards a more livable and law-abiding city, reaffirming the department's commitment to protecting the many entrepreneurs who respect the laws and work every day to make Rome more beautiful and welcoming for everyone, Romans and tourists. Closing the venue for 10 days will be a strong deterrent for those who thought they could act with impunity. Our venues are a showcase for Rome and it is essential to protect them, because the illegal occupation of public land not only damages the appearance of the city, but also creates unease towards an entire category that must be supported and valued” – declares Monica Lucarelli, Councilor for Productive Activities and Equal Opportunities of Rome Capital.

“We are very satisfied that the central administration has accepted our request to tighten the closures of commercial establishments due to total illegal occupation of public land. A further signal, together with the continuous demolitions, of protection of residents and virtuous traders" - declares Lorenza Bonaccorsi, President of Municipality I.

“A clear signal, an important innovation that will have concrete effects. We protect residents and traders who respect the rules. No discount for the smart ones” – declares Andrea Alemanni, President of the Trade Commission of Rome Capital.