Heaters on in much of the Northern Italy from tomorrow, October 15, 2026: like every year, the switch-on date of the heating systems changes depending on the climate of each region and the average seasonal temperatures.
We start exactly on October 15thwhen centralized domestic heating will come on in the climate zone Ewhich includes most of the Northern Regions and large cities such as Milan, Turin and Aosta. The systems can remain switched on for up to a maximum of 14 hours per daywith the temperature inside the buildings must be a maximum of 20 °C (with +2 °C tolerance).
The ignitions will continue as usual gradual along the boot until 1 December 2026when climate zone A (which includes for example Lampedusa, Porto Empedocle) will also be able to activate the heating.
This year, however, several Municipalities have chosen to postpone the switch-on date, taking advantage of the temperatures still above the seasonal average to reduce energy consumption and consequent emissions. Among them exceptions there are, for example, the Municipalities of Monza, Bergamo And Bresciaas well as the areas of plains in Emilia-Romagna. TO MilanInstead, from 15 to 30 October the systems will only be able to operate for 8 hours a day.
Where they will be turned on from October 15th and the exceptions of 2026
From tomorrow 15 October the heating will start in climate zone E, in fact the most populous with around 4,000 municipalities involved and almost all the large urban centers of the North.
As mentioned, for the season 2026/2027 However, some municipalities have provided one ignition extensionso as to be able to reduce consumption and emissions. Below is the complete list of exceptions:
- Municipality of Monzaignition postponed to October 22;
- Municipality of Bresciaignition postponed to October 22;
- Municipality of Bergamoignition postponed to October 22;
- Municipalities of Corsico and Buccinasco (in the province of Milan), ignition postponed to October 22;
- Municipality of Bolognaignition postponed to November 1st;
- Municipality of Veniceignition postponed to November 1st just for public buildings, offices, shops and commercial activities.
- Areas of plains of theEmilia-Romagnaignition postponed to November 1st.
Among other things, in many of these cases, the shutdown date is also brought forward (theoretically scheduled for April 15th) in periods including between 8 and 12 April 2027.
Time and temperature limits
The current legislation (Decree of the President of the Republic n.412 of 1993) in addition to dividing Italy into 6 different climatic zones based on average seasonal temperaturesalso establishes the number of operating hours and the maximum temperature inside buildings.
In fact, the Decree provides that, in climate zone Ethe heaters can be used up to a maximum of 14 hours per day. Inside residential buildings, however, the maximum temperature allowed is 20°C (+2 °C tolerance).
Be careful, however, because even in this case the Municipalities or Regions can adopt more restrictive criteria. For example, for the Municipality of Milan:
- From the 15th to 30th October the heaters will be able to work for maximum 8 hours a daybetween 05:00 and 23:00. From October 31, 2026 to April 15, 2027, for a maximum of 13 hours a day, always in the same time slot.
For the whole Lombardy RegionInstead:
- There maximum temperature allowed for residential buildings is 19 °C (+2 °C tolerance), reduced by 1 degree compared to the 20 °C required by law. For buildings used for industrial activitiesartisanal and similar, the limit remains unchanged at 18°C (+2 °C tolerance). Hospitals, clinics or retirement homes, nurseries and preschools are excluded.
