The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed the first cooling ordinance of its kind in the region on August 12, 2025 — a maximum indoor temperature standard of 82°F in all habitable rooms of covered rental units. The ordinance took effect September 11, 2025, but landlord temperature compliance isn't required until January 1, 2027. Small landlords with 10 or fewer units have a longer runway — full compliance by 2032. Critically, this is a County ordinance covering unincorporated LA County only. The City of Los Angeles has directed staff to conform to the standard, but no City ordinance has been enacted yet.
The essential distinction: County vs. City
This is the single most important thing to get right. LA County and City of Los Angeles are separate jurisdictions with separate ordinances.
LA County ordinance (LACC § 11.20.475): Passed August 2025. Effective September 11, 2025. Enforcement of the temperature standard begins January 1, 2027. Applies to unincorporated LA County — areas like East LA, Florence-Firestone, Marina del Rey, Altadena, Athens, Walnut Park, and Puente Valley. Also applies to any incorporated city that formally adopts the ordinance into its own health code.
City of Los Angeles: The City Council passed a motion in February 2026 directing staff to draft an ordinance conforming to the County's 82°F standard. This motion is directional — it tells staff to prepare legislation. It is not itself a law. As of June 2026, no City of LA cooling ordinance has been enacted. When one is enacted, it will follow the standard 31-day publication period before taking effect.
What the County ordinance actually requires
For rental properties in unincorporated LA County (and any city that adopts the ordinance), landlords must be able to maintain a maximum indoor temperature of 82°F in all habitable rooms.
"Habitable room" means any room used for sleeping, living, cooking, or eating. It excludes bathrooms, hallways, closets, storage rooms, unfinished attics, foyers, cellars, utility rooms, and similar spaces.
Temperature is measured three feet above the floor, in the center of the room — not at a wall register, not at a ceiling. This measurement standard matters for compliance disputes.
The ordinance does not require a specific cooling technology. Landlords can use central AC, ductless mini-splits, portable air conditioners, evaporative coolers, or a combination. What matters is the ability to hit the 82°F ceiling in a heat event.
The small landlord provision
Landlords with 10 or fewer units across their portfolio get a phased compliance schedule:
- By January 1, 2027: at least one habitable room in each unit must be capable of maintaining 82°F or cooler
- By January 1, 2032: all habitable rooms in each unit must be capable of maintaining 82°F or cooler
Larger landlords (11+ units) must comply with the full standard by January 1, 2027 — no phased schedule.
Tenant portable cooling rights — active NOW
The ordinance's tenant-facing provisions took effect September 11, 2025 — well before landlord compliance is required. A tenant in a covered unit currently has the right to install portable cooling equipment at their own expense, provided:
- The installation doesn't violate building codes or state, local, or federal law
- The installation doesn't violate the manufacturer's safety guidelines
- The tenant gives the landlord at least 5 days' written notice before installation
Covered "portable cooling devices" include window AC units, portable AC units, and evaporative coolers. Non-mechanical cooling methods — blackout curtains, window films, shades — are also protected.
Landlord restrictions:
- Cannot prohibit or restrict a tenant's installation of qualifying cooling equipment
- Cannot use the installation as grounds for eviction, retaliation, or additional fees
- Cannot increase rent based on the tenant's use of cooling equipment
- Cannot pass the cost of portable cooling devices through to tenants as a capital improvement
The equipment installed at tenant expense remains the tenant's property. Tenants are responsible for damage caused by their installation or use.
The extension provision for landlords
The ordinance recognizes that some older buildings can't reasonably retrofit for the 82°F standard through portable cooling methods alone. Landlords in this situation may apply in writing for an extension of up to two additional years beyond the January 1, 2027 enforcement date. The extension request must be submitted to the Director of the Department of Public Health.
This is not automatic. It's a written application. Landlords who anticipate needing an extension should begin the application process well before the enforcement date — likely by mid-2026 to allow for review and any required documentation.
Enforcement mechanics
Enforcement will be handled by the LA County Department of Public Health, not by LAHD or LADBS. Violations are treated as habitability violations under the Rental Housing Habitability Program.
Penalties include:
- Administrative fines under LACC § 8.53.105
- Placement in the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP) under LACC § 8.55.010, which may result in rent reductions, escrowed rent, and added fees
- Tenant remedies for retaliation if the landlord takes action against a tenant for asserting cooling rights
The per-unit fee
The ordinance establishes a new per-unit annual fee to fund enforcement — hiring two additional Department of Public Health inspectors. The estimated fee is approximately $7.77 per unit, though this figure is subject to a cost study before being finalized. The fee applies to units in unincorporated LA County, and to cities that adopt the ordinance if the city chooses to opt in to the fee structure.
Exempt properties
The following are exempt from the ordinance:
- Owner-occupied units
- Short-term rentals subject to Chapter 7.96 of the County Code
- Mobile homes, recreational vehicles, mobile home parks, and RV parks
- Rental properties already subject to routine habitability inspections by other government agencies (federal, state, or other local)
- Vacant properties
A specific worked example
Consider a landlord who owns a 6-unit building in East Los Angeles (unincorporated LA County).
- Coverage: unincorporated LA County → ordinance applies
- Small landlord status: 6 units → yes, phased compliance
- January 1, 2027 obligation: at least one habitable room in each of the 6 units must be capable of maintaining 82°F
- January 1, 2032 obligation: all habitable rooms in each of the 6 units must meet the standard
- Tenant rights active now: any tenant giving 5 days' written notice can install portable cooling at their own expense
If the same landlord owns three 4-unit buildings (12 units total), they are not a small landlord under the ordinance — full compliance is required by January 1, 2027 for all habitable rooms.
What to do now
If you own rental property anywhere in the LA area, three actions are worth taking before 2027:
1. Determine your jurisdiction with certainty. Address alone doesn't tell you. Use the LA County Assessor's parcel search or check with your city's planning department to confirm whether your property is in incorporated or unincorporated LA County — and if incorporated, whether your city has adopted the County ordinance or has its own.
2. Inventory your habitable rooms. Count them per unit, and assess current cooling capacity honestly. A room without adjacent windows or with poor exterior wall exposure may need mechanical cooling.
3. If you're a small landlord in a covered area, plan for the phased path. Getting one room per unit to 82°F by 2027 is materially different from getting all rooms there. Central AC is one option; ductless mini-splits and portable units are typically cheaper for the "one room" phase.
The LandlordOS engine will surface the applicable cooling requirement for each of your properties once encoded, along with the applicable deadline and small-landlord status calculation. Add your property to see the current requirements for your specific unit.