With the arrival of cold temperatures, turning on the heating becomes a necessity, but not an unregulated action. While the radiators have been on in the North for weeks, Central and Southern Italy are preparing for the green light, generally scheduled for mid-November, although some areas will have to wait longer.
The management of heating systems, both autonomous and centralized, is governed by national legislation that establishes operating periods, daily time limits, and maximum permitted temperatures, with the aim of reducing energy consumption.
Italy is divided into six different climate zones, defined on the basis of the "Degree Days" (DD) of each municipality, which determine the calendar and duration of operation of the systems.
The map of the six climatic zones
The list of municipalities and provinces provides a clear picture of the different ignition regimes across the country:
Zone F (No restrictions): This category includes the coldest municipalities (days exceeding 3.000). There are no time or period restrictions. This category primarily includes the provinces of Cuneo, Belluno, and Trento.
Zona E (14 hours/day): Includes municipalities with populations between 2.101 and 3.000. Lights are permitted from October 15, 2024, to April 15, 2025, for a maximum of 14 hours per day. This includes many areas in the North and the Apennines, including the provinces of Alessandria, Aosta, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Bolzano, Modena, Parma, Padua, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Trieste, Gorizia, Piacenza, Ravenna, Venice, Udine, Verona, Perugia, Rieti, Frosinone, Campobasso, L'Aquila, and Potenza.
Zone D (12 hours/day): Includes provinces with DD between 1.401 and 2.100. The period runs from November 1, 2024, to April 15, 2025, for a maximum of 12 hours per day. The main provinces are: Rome, Ancona, Genoa, Florence, Pescara, La Spezia, Livorno, Grosseto, Lucca, Macerata, Pisa, Pesaro, Viterbo, Avellino, Siena, Chieti, Foggia, Matera, Teramo, and Vibo Valentia.
Zone C (10 hours/day): Characterized by a milder climate (days between 9:01 and 1:400). Heating can be turned on from November 15, 2024, to March 31, 2025, for a maximum of 10 hours per day. This area includes, among others, the provinces of Naples, Latina, Caserta, Salerno, Bari, Brindisi, Benevento, Catanzaro, Cagliari, Lecce, Ragusa, Cosenza, and Taranto.
Zone B (8 hours/day): Warm weather zone (days between 6:00 and 9:00). Lights are permitted from December 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, for 8 hours per day. This includes provinces such as Palermo, Syracuse, Trapani, Reggio Calabria, Agrigento, Messina, and Catania.
Zone A (6 hours/day): Includes the hottest areas in Italy (days less than 600). Plants can only operate from December 1, 2024, to March 15, 2025, for 6 hours a day. Only the municipalities of Lampedusa, Linosa, and Porto Empedocle are included.
It is important to underline that the climate classification is not homogeneous: neighbouring municipalities can be placed in different bands.
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Temperature limits and exemptions
In addition to time limits, the law also imposes specific limits on internal temperatures. Presidential Decree 74/2013 establishes that the average temperature in indoor environments must not exceed:
18°C (+ 2°C tolerance) for buildings used for industrial or craft activities.
20°C (+ 2°C tolerance) for all other buildings, including homes.
Although the main legislation indicates 20°C (with a tolerance of up to 22°C), subsequent acts and local regulations have often lowered the ceiling to 19°C (+ 2°C tolerance), effectively setting the maximum perceived limit at 21°C in many homes.
However, there are exceptions. The time and temperature restrictions do not apply to facilities that require constant thermal comfort for health and care reasons. The exemptions apply to:
Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and healthcare facilities.
Nursing homes, RSAs, and facilities for the elderly or minors.
Sheltered social care facilities.
Nursery schools and daycare centers.
Fines up to 3.000 euros
Ignoring the rules on dates, times, and maximum temperatures can be costly. Citizens who fail to comply with the regulations, if subjected to inspections, risk heavy administrative fines, ranging from a minimum of €500 to a maximum of €3.000. Additional penalties may also be imposed under municipal or condominium regulations.
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