Benevento has issued a mayoral ordinance requiring the cleaning and upkeep of the street-facing parts of premises along Corso Garibaldi, with vacant shops explicitly included. The order, reported as an initiative of Mayor Mastella, covers windows, doors, exterior fixtures, shutters and other closure systems visible from the public street.
The measure follows a documented inspection by the municipal police, according to the City of Benevento.
What owners and shopkeepers must clean
The ordinance applies to all premises facing Corso Garibaldi, whether open for business or not.
Owners, traders and managers must clean street-facing windows, doors, exterior fixtures, shutters and closures. The required work includes removal of:
- dirt and stains
- cobwebs
- glue or adhesive-tape residue
- unauthorised posters, notices and stickers
- graffiti
- deteriorated materials
For vacant or unused premises, interiors visible from the public street must also be cleaned, with waste and disused materials removed.
Empty shops in focus
Vacant commercial units are a central target of the order.
For vacant or unused premises, the owner is the responsible party unless another obligated person is identified.
Empty shop windows may be covered from the inside with removable, decorous films, window decals or panels. Those coverings must not carry advertising messages, and they do not replace the obligation to remove waste and disused materials from inside.
Deadline and penalties
The required cleaning must be completed within 30 days of publication of the ordinance.
NTR24 reports administrative fines ranging from 25 euros to 500 euros per premises for non-compliance, adding that payment of the fine does not remove the obligation to clean and restore the premises. The fine range was not repeated in the retrieved excerpt of the City's notice.
The ordinance number and exact Albo Pretorio publication timestamp were not confirmed in the materials retrieved, and no official count of affected premises was provided.
Why Corso Garibaldi
The City describes Corso Garibaldi as an area of exceptional historical, urban and architectural value, linked to the UNESCO site context.
In practical terms, that means neglected shutters, dirty display windows and abandoned interiors are treated not only as private maintenance issues but as harm to the image of one of Benevento's most representative streets.
What to check if you are affected
For readers with a shop, studio or property facing Corso Garibaldi:
- Check all parts visible from the street: glass, frames, doors, shutters, roller boxes and fixed closures.
- Remove unauthorised notices, stickers, graffiti, tape residue and cobwebs.
- If the unit is vacant, clear waste and disused items from areas visible through windows or doorways.
- If covering an empty window, use only an interior, removable and neutral screen, with no advertising.
The City's notice and independent local coverage agree on the scope and responsibility rules described above. Property holders who are unsure whether another manager or leaseholder is formally responsible should verify the obligation before the 30-day deadline expires.
