Cadastral code of the municipality (codice catastale del comune): what it is
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What the cadastral code is in plain termsWhere to find itWhy you need it for the land registry extractHow to get the land registry extract, step by stepWhat to check if the search gives no resultsWhy the code matters in an auction tooIn shortFrequently asked questionsSourcesThe land registry extract (visura catastale) is not requested from the Comune: it is issued by the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate), online or at the counter. To look up a property, however, you need the cadastral code of the municipality, a four-character code that identifies that municipality in the land registry.
What the cadastral code is in plain terms
The cadastral code is made up of one letter followed by three numbers. For example, the code for Rome is H501 and the code for Milan is F205. Every Italian municipality has its own; it can change in particular cases, for example when a new municipality is created through a merger.
The code is also called the Belfiore code. This is the name you will find most often in technical texts, while in forms and search screens it appears as cadastral code or municipality code.
The code does not indicate the street, the street number or the type of property. It only tells the land registry in which municipality to search.
Where to find it
If you already have a document about the property, the code is usually already written there. Check:
- the land registry extract (visura catastale), in the part where the municipality and the unit details are shown;
- the appraisal report (perizia d'asta), in the section dedicated to the cadastral identification;
- the sale deed or the notarial deed (rogito), where the cadastral details of the property appear.
If you do not have any of these documents, the code can be found by searching for the municipality in the official cadastral tables. How to use the search is explained in the guide on land registry extract: what it is and how to download it.
Why you need it for the land registry extract
The land registry extract is the record that the land registry keeps on every property. To find it you must enter the municipality and then the property, and the municipality is identified precisely by the code.
Example. You want to search for an apartment in Rome. You enter the municipality, which in the system corresponds to the code H501. Then you enter the sheet, parcel and subordinate, if you know them. Without the right municipality, the search finds nothing or finds a different property with the same sheet and parcel number.
If you do not know the sheet, parcel and subordinate, you will find how to obtain them in the guide on sheet, parcel and subordinate: how to find them.
How to get the land registry extract, step by step
- Identify the cadastral code of the municipality, from the land registry extract or from the documents you have.
- Go to the Agenzia delle Entrate consultation service and choose the search by property.
- Enter the municipality, then sheet, parcel and subordinate, or the search by address if it is available.
- Check that the registered owner and the details match what you are looking for.
- Download or print the land registry extract. If you also need the cadastral floor plan, the request is separate: see the guide on cadastral floor plan: how to get it.
The online land registry extract is free for the owner of the property. For anyone who is not the owner, the land registry extract is paid. You can find the exact cost on the Agenzia delle Entrate website, because it is not stated in this guide.
What to check if the search gives no results
If the search does not find the property, check these points, one at a time:
- the municipality code: a single wrong character leads to a different municipality;
- the sheet and the parcel: they are often confused with other numbers that appear in the documents;
- the subordinate: if the property is in a condominium (building owners' association), the subordinate changes from unit to unit.
If the property has just been built, subdivided or merged, the details may not match those in older documents. In that case, the updated land registry extract is the one that counts.
Why the code matters in an auction too
The notice of sale and the appraisal report of the auction contain the cadastral details of the property. If you compare them with the land registry extract, you can check that the asset for sale is the one described. This check is useful in every purchase, not only in an auction.
The appraisal report is the document in which the appraiser (perito) describes the property and attaches the land registry extract and the floor plan. To learn what to read, see the guide on how to read an auction appraisal report, section by section.
Notarial deeds must state the cadastral details of the property. The law that requires this is the law on cadastral compliance, which you can read on Normattiva. The notary checks these details before the notarial deed, but it is useful for you to know them already.
In short
- Look for the cadastral code of the municipality in the land registry extract, the appraisal report or the notarial deed you already have.
- Compare the code with the municipality written in the notice or the deed, before searching for the property.
- Search with the code, sheet, parcel and subordinate, and check that the owner and details match.
- Request the land registry extract from the Agenzia delle Entrate, not from the Comune.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cadastral code the same as the municipality's tax code?
No. The tax code of the municipality is the number that identifies the Comune as a public body. The cadastral code is used by the land registry to identify the municipality in land registry extracts and floor plans, and it is also the abbreviation that appears in people's tax codes to indicate the municipality of birth. They are two different codes.
Can I ask the Comune for the land registry extract if I cannot get it online?
No. The Comune does not issue land registry extracts. If you cannot do it online, you can go in person to the Agenzia delle Entrate counter, where land registry extracts are requested.
Does the cadastral code change if the municipality changes its name?
As a rule, the code stays the same as that of the municipality. However, if the territory changes significantly, the land registry may update the details. If in doubt, check the code with the most recent land registry extract.
Sources
In the same chapter
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- Certificate of habitability (certificato di agibilità): when it is neededThe certificate of habitability confirms that a home is fit for use. Here is when it is needed, how to check it before buying and what to do if it is missing.
- Foglio, particella and subalterno: how to find themFoglio, particella and subalterno are the numbers that identify the property in the land registry (catasto): you find them in the notarial deed, the land registry extract and the auction appraisal report.
- Mortgage on a home: what it is and how it is cancelledThe mortgage is the guarantee the bank registers on the home for the loan. It is closed after the final payment, but it should be checked with a mortgage search: here's how.
- Mortgage Search (Ispezione ipotecaria): How to Request It and What It ShowsThe mortgage search (ispezione ipotecaria) shows mortgages, seizures and transcriptions on a home: here is how to request it and what to check before signing.
General information, not legal or tax advice: the law and the notice of sale prevail.
