By early 2024, the push to require cooling measures in rental units was gaining serious momentum among lawmakers. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors made a decisive move, voting 4 to 1 to advance the motion aimed at protecting tenants from extreme heat.
Now, over a year-and-a-half later, as reported by the L.A. Times, Los Angeles County made it official that it will soon require landlords in unincorporated areas to provide a way to keep their rental units at 82 degrees or below to protect vulnerable tenants from the impacts of climate change. The law takes effect next month, but enforcement won’t begin until January 2027.
Landlords can request an extension, and both existing and newly constructed rental units will need to comply, while landlords with smaller property portfolios will be granted extra time. Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced an amendment allowing landlords who own 10 or fewer units to only have to meet the temperature requirement in one room until 2032.
Officials noted that deadly heat waves, which have become more frequent and severe throughout the state, pose a clear public health emergency for the county. Similar measures are already in place in areas within California and nearby.
In Palm Springs, units are required to have air conditioning capable of maintaining 80 degrees, while in Phoenix, rental units must maintain temperatures at 82 degrees or below. Something similar happens in Clark County, Nevada, where units must stay at 85 degrees or cooler.
Officials explained that enforcement of the new law will rely on tenant complaints. If tenants feel their unit is too warm, they can contact the county, which will send an inspector from the Department of Public Health to assess the situation.