The City of Sydney has announced a ban on "unsightly" lockboxes attached to public infrastructure, giving owners until 1 April 2027 to remove them before a formal removal programme begins. The measure, championed by Lord Mayor Clover Moore, targets the small key safes widely used by Airbnb hosts, landlords and property managers to hand over keys without meeting guests or tenants in person, which the council says pose safety risks, hinder maintenance and damage public assets such as poles, trees and bike racks.

Under the policy, lockboxes will be barred from public fixtures, with council officers storing any removed boxes for 28 days so owners can reclaim them before disposal; devices deemed an immediate safety hazard can be removed straight away. The council plans an education campaign ahead of the 2027 start date and has suggested alternatives, including private-property installation, in-person handovers, concierge services or smart locks. The move follows a council vote in April to examine possible curbs on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Stayz, amid pressure from groups such as Homelessness NSW for tighter regulation, while the NSW Government is due to release its own review of short-term rental laws later this year.