Los Angeles City Council Introduces Cooling Ordinance for Rentals

Los Angeles City Council members Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez, and Adrin Nazarian have introduced a motion to establish a cooling ordinance requiring landlords to ensure rental units do not exceed 82 degrees Fahrenheit during extreme heat, aligning with a similar ordinance recently passed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The measure addresses the health risks posed by extreme indoor heat, which is linked to increased emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations such as the chronically ill, older adults, and low-income renters living in older buildings without air conditioning. The ordinance would mandate landlords to install air conditioning, fans, or other cooling equipment to protect residents from dangerous heat conditions. Councilmembers emphasize that existing laws require heating but not cooling, highlighting the urgent need to adapt to rising temperatures due to climate change. The motion also encourages expanded incentive programs to help tenants afford air conditioning and assist landlords with building upgrades, including solar panels and cool roofs. The city aims to move more quickly than the county in implementing these protections to safeguard residents from the increasing frequency and severity of heat waves.