Bolzano Plans Daily €1.50 Tourist Dog Tax from 2026

Starting in 2026, the northern Italian city of Bolzano plans to implement a tourist tax of €1.50 per dog per day, alongside an annual ownership fee of around €100 for local residents, aimed at covering costs related to dog waste cleanup and public service maintenance. This move follows the limited success of a mandatory dog DNA registration program intended to identify owners who fail to clean up after their pets, with only a fraction of dog owners complying despite heavy fines. The tax revenues will fund additional waste bins, green space maintenance, and designated dog areas to balance growing pet tourism with community cleanliness. Provincial Councilor Luis Walcher stated that owners registered in the DNA database would be exempt from the resident tax for two years, framing the tax as a fair measure targeting dog owners specifically. However, the plan has sparked criticism from animal welfare groups like the Italian National Animal Protection Agency, which labeled the tax as unfair and counterproductive, advocating instead for awareness campaigns and civic education. The initiative reflects Bolzano's efforts to manage increased tourist traffic and maintain the city's charm amid rising numbers of visitors traveling with pets in the scenic Dolomites region.