Area C is a congestion charge active in the city center of Milan, Italy. It was introduced in 2012, replacing the previous pollution charge Ecopass and based on the same designated traffic restricted zone. The area is about 8.2 km² (3.2 sq mi) with 77,000 residents (4.5% and 6% of the city total, respectively) and is accessible through gates monitored by traffic cameras.

The objective of the program is to reduce traffic, promote public transport, and to decrease the high levels of smog in the city. All net revenues from the system are used to promote public transport and sustainable mobility. Like its predecessor Ecopass, the congestion charge was highly criticized, although it decreased vehicle entrances into the city by about 30%, increased average speeds of buses, and reduced levels of pollution. The program was temporarily suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy; as of August 2023, it has been reactivated.

In 2007 Milan had one of the highest European rates of car ownership, as more than half of Milan citizens owned private cars and motorcycles, ranking second only after Rome, and among the highest in the world. A 2007 study by environmental group Legambiente found that Milan also had some of the highest concentration of airborne particulate matter in Europe. It ranked third among large European cities both in terms of average annual level and number of days exceeding the European Union limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of coarse particulates (PM10). Due to its lingering air pollution problems and associated health problems, in 2007, and for a trial period, the city banned 170,000 older cars and motorcycles that do not pass strict environmental emission standards.

In January 2008, the mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, launched the Ecopass program expecting a 30% cut in pollution levels and a 10% reduction in traffic. The program imposed a charge on vehicles with higher pollution levels. Ecopass was an incentive for motorists to buy less polluting cars, and in a few years the number of cars with free access were the majority. Although these vehicles had less polluting engines, the free access helped less with the congestion problem. This trend contributed to a return to previous traffic levels and at the same time reduced revenue collected. This threatened the ability to keep the system in operation.

Area C was proposed and accepted in a 2011 referendum. The objective of the program was to drastically reduce the chronic traffic jams that take place in the city of Milan, to promote sustainable mobility and public transport, and to reduce the dangerously unhealthy smog. It was introduced on 16 January 2012 as a 18-month pilot program, replacing Ecopass. Area C was definitively approved as a permanent program on 27 March 2013, in advance of the expiration of the experimental period.

The congestion charge is based on the same designated traffic restricted zone or ZTL (Italian: Zona a Traffico Limitato) used by Ecopass, corresponding to the central Cerchia dei Bastioni area. The ZTL encompasses about 8.2 km² (3.2 sq mi) and 77,000 residents (4.5% and 6% of the city total, respectively). The area is accessible through 43 gates, monitored by traffic cameras.

Normally the charge applies to every vehicle entering the city centre on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm, except on Thursdays, when it is free after 6 pm. Every vehicle entering the charging zone must pay €5 regardless of its pollution level. Residents of the restricted area must also pay to reach their houses, but they have 40 free accesses per year and a discounted fare of €2.

Access to the area is forbidden for diesel Euro 3 or below, gasoline Euro 0, and private vehicles over 7 m (23 ft) long. Electric vehicles, motorcycles and scooters, public utilities' vehicles, police and emergency vehicles, buses and taxis are exempt from the charge. Hybrid electric and bi-fuel natural gas vehicles (CNG and LPG) were exempt until 1 January 2013. This was later extended until the end of 2016 and later to September 2022.