A Multi-City Governance Model for Parcel Lockers in Public Space
How 20 Czech cities and urban districts created shared rules for a new layer of urban infrastructure
Parcel lockers are rapidly becoming part of everyday urban life. They make deliveries more convenient, but they also affect sidewalks, traffic, utilities, accessibility, visual quality, local services and public space.
This project helps cities manage parcel lockers before they become a permanent burden on the urban environment.
Developed by Naše kultivovaná města, an independent non-profit organization, together with an interdisciplinary author and expert collective, the project brought together 20 Czech cities and urban districts, 31 municipal representatives and 17 experts in urban planning, design, law, mobility and public space management.
Key Numbers
20 cities and urban districts
A shared governance model covering 2.34 million residents.
31 municipal representatives
Municipal representatives from across the Czech Republic were actively involved in the process.
17 experts
An interdisciplinary team of architects, designers, lawyers, urban planners and other professionals.
The Challenge
Parcel lockers are one of the fastest-growing forms of last-mile delivery infrastructure. Although they improve delivery convenience, their placement often affects pedestrian accessibility, public space, traffic service, parking, local businesses, utilities and the visual quality of streets.
Without clear municipal rules, cities are forced to react to already installed infrastructure instead of actively shaping how it should function.
Photo: Jakub Adamus, Jindřich Gubiš, Jaroslav Juřica, MAUKŠ Interier Design, Městský obvod Pardubice II, Karolína Petrů, Lukáš Polický, Veronika Rút, Aleš Stuchlík, Petr Štefek
Why Cities Needed Shared Rules
Individual municipalities often do not have enough capacity, data or legal confidence to address parcel lockers on their own. Private operators can move faster than municipal administrations, which creates pressure on public space and weakens the negotiating position of cities.
A shared approach gives municipalities common standards, stronger legal confidence and a clearer language for negotiation with private operators.
The Solution
The project created a transferable methodology for managing parcel lockers in public space.
It combines urban planning, legal tools, design principles, transport requirements, public space management, local business protection and practical experience from municipalities.
The aim is not to ban parcel lockers. The aim is to make sure they serve residents without damaging public space.
Key Principles
The methodology prioritises indoor locations, passages and solutions integrated into buildings before free-standing lockers in public space.
It defines practical requirements for pedestrian accessibility, servicing, parking and shared capacities, while also addressing visual quality, advertising limits, lighting and respect for the local urban context.
Project Outputs
Strategy Document
A shared methodology helping cities manage parcel lockers as part of public space, mobility, services and urban quality.
Legal Toolkit
Practical legal guidance for municipalities, including possible regulatory tools, market rules, fees and agreements with operators.
Municipal Training
Training sessions and shared knowledge exchange helped municipal representatives apply the methodology in their own local context.
Implementation
The methodology is already being implemented by several municipalities.
Cities are using the shared framework to approve strategies, map parcel lockers, prepare zoning and fee systems, negotiate relocations and introduce municipal market regulations and memoranda.
After more than one year, no court disputes have occurred. Municipalities and private operators continue to cooperate on practical solutions.
Stakeholders
The project connected municipalities, urban experts, legal specialists, designers, transport and public space professionals, and parcel locker operators.
The project was authored by Veronika Rút and Jan Kadlas together with a wider author collective. Legal methodology was developed with Urban Legal.
The process included consultations with private operators such as Alza, Zásilkovna, Allegro, PPL, DPD and Dr. Max.
The material was further distributed by the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, the Czech Chamber of Architects and the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic.
Why It Matters
A smart city is not only a city that uses technology. It is a city that can govern new infrastructure wisely.
Parcel lockers show that technological convenience needs urban rules, spatial responsibility and public interest.
This project demonstrates how cities can respond to fast market-driven changes with cooperation, shared knowledge and practical governance tools that improve everyday life in public space.
Project Credits
Expert Team and Author Collective
Project authors
MgA. Veronika Rút, Ing. arch. Jan Kadlas and the author collective
All authors, listed alphabetically
Ing. arch. Hana Chalupská, A8000
MgA. Jaroslav Juřica, CHYBIK + KRISTOF
Ing. arch. Jan Kadlas, Prague Institute of Planning and Development
MgA. David Karásek, mmcité, market consultation
Ing. arch. Tom Kozelský, KOGAA
MgA. Veronika Rút, Naše kultivovaná města
Ing. arch. Petr Štefek
Petr Velička
Legal methodology for regulating parcel lockers in municipalities
Urban Legal, advokátní kancelář s.r.o.
Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Sedláček
Mgr. Maroš Sovák
Mgr. Kateřina Tvrdoňová
Aneta Jemelíková
Acknowledgements
Ing. arch. Roman Žitňanský and the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava
CleverMaps
Layout and texts
MgA. Veronika Rút
Graphic design
MgA. Karolína Petrů
Illustrations
MgA. Karolína Petrů
Stylistic proofreading
MgA. Kateřina Přidalová
Grammar proofreading
Magdaléna Dudešková
Photography
Jakub Adamus
Blocks Smart Lockers
Jindřich Gubiš
Jaroslav Juřica
MAUKŠ Interier Design
Městský obvod Pardubice II
Karolína Petrů
Lukáš Polický
Veronika Rút
Aleš Stuchlík
Petr Štefek
Ludmila Žlábková
Participating Cities and Municipal Representatives
Boskovice
Ing. arch. Andrea Prajsová
Ing. Lukáš Holík
Česká Třebová
City Architect: Ing. arch. Štěpán Eliáš
České Budějovice
Michal Šebek
Mgr. Tomáš Kubeš
Martina Dětáková
Hradec Králové
Chief Architect Department: MgA. Šárka Dlouhá
Ing. arch. Veronika Vobořilová
Jablonec nad Nisou
City Architecture Office: Ing. arch. Pavlína Müllerová
Ing. arch. Petra Hušková
Jičín
City Architect: Ing. arch. Radek Jiránek
Karlovy Vary
City Architecture Office: Ing. arch. Kateřina Fišerová
Kopřivnice
City Architect: Ing. arch. Jan Kraut
Liberec
City Architecture Office: Ing. arch. Zuzana Koňasová
Brno-střed City District
Bc. Petr Štika, MBA, LL.M.
Nové Město na Moravě
Bc. Lenka Procházková
Olomouc
City Architect Office: Ing. arch. Eva Bomberová
Pardubice
Chief Architect Department: Ing. arch. Aleš Reiský
Ing. arch. Pavla Sommerschuh
Capital City of Prague
Ing. arch. Jan Kadlas
Příbram
City Architect: Ing. arch. Josef Tlustý
Roztoky
Mgr. Zuzana Šrůmová
Slavkov u Brna
Bc. Veronika Slámová
Marie Jedličková
Tábor
City Architect Office: MSc. Arch. Kateřina Čechová
Ústí nad Labem
City Architect Office Department: Ing. arch. Barbora Havrlová
Ing. arch. Kristina Magasaniková
Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Petříková, lawyer
Eliška Pixová, DiS.
Ing. arch. Zuzana Šikulová
Ústí nad Orlicí
City Architect: Ing. arch. Petra Coufal Skalická
Naše kultivovaná města is an independent Czech non-profit organization focused on improving public space.
Are you facing a similar challenge in your city? Let’s talk: veronika@kultivovanamesta.cz.
Our Projects (in Czech Language)
Methodology of Cultivation of Visual Pollution in Cities
Advertising guidelines and Manuals in Public Space
Parcel Lockers in Public Space
Cultivation of Advertising in 1,500 Train Stations across Czechia
The Shop Window of the Year as a Support for Local Businesses
Pilsner Urquell and Cultivation of 8000 Pubs in Czechia and Slovakia
Tactical Urbanism as a Support for Local Business in Brno
Interdisciplinary Conference: People Who Change Our Cities
Academy of Cultivation of Public Space
We help cities improve public space through practical steps.
We support mayors, city architects and municipal teams in making public space clearer, more accessible and more pleasant for everyday life. We combine urban design, law, communication and negotiation to help cities turn complex problems into practical solutions.
Are you facing a similar challenge in your city? Let’s talk: veronika@kultivovanamesta.cz
