A new ordinance requires the temperature inside rental units in unincorporated Los Angeles County to never go above 82 degrees Fahrenheit, a measure intending to ward off health impacts caused by extreme heat.
The county ordinance, developed over nearly three years, received approval by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and will come back for a final vote Aug. 12. The supervisors agreed to carve out an amendment for small, mom and pop landlords, giving them more time by allowing phased compliance.
“Extreme heat as we know is very serious and it is a growing public health threat,” said First District Supervisor Hilda Solis, who along with Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath asked for the ordinance in January 2024.
“This is a significant policy and is a step forward to protect the public health of our renters,” said Horvath. “Extreme heat is the deadliest climate risk facing our communities, especially in the San Fernando Valley where unimaginable temperatures, for example, were recorded in Woodland Hills at 122 degrees.”
On Jan. 1, 2027, enforcement of the new ordinance begins, as county Department of Public Health (DPH) inspectors check for compliance. Two new inspectors will be hired for the program. The DPH will respond to complaints and at first will employ an “education-first approach,” according to county reports, before issuing citations.
Landlords can first try “passive cooling” by adding window shades, black-out curtains, ceiling fans or shade trees. If that is not enough, “they may be required to explore the addition of mechanical cooling such as air conditioning units or heat pumps,” according to a DPH document. Under the plan, costs cannot be passed onto the tenant.
All landlords can apply for a two-year extension if they can prove they can’t meet the requirements by the deadline and another two years if necessary. Small landlords who own 10 or fewer units only must maintain 82 degrees or less in one habitable room at first; they have until 2032 to cool the entire unit.
The first-of-its-kind ordinance affects 97,124 rental units in unincorporated county areas, the county reported. The ordinance received overwhelming support from environmental health and tenants’ rights groups, renters, educators, medical professionals and some city representatives who intimated they may adopt the new county code.
“The proposed ordinance … would serve as a model for West Hollywood and other jurisdictions to follow,” wrote Chelsea Lee Byers, mayor of West Hollywood in a letter of support.
Maywood Councilmember Eddie De La Riva also wrote in support: “Heat is now one of the leading weather-related causes of death, and it disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable residents, especially low-income renters, older adults, young children, and people with chronic health conditions. Without immediate and meaningful action, the health and safety of too many Angelenos will continue to be jeopardized inside their own homes.”
Opposition came from apartment owner trade groups, who said it would be too costly.
Janet Gagnon, who represents smaller, mom and pop landlords, said the costs for updating electrical systems for air conditioning units in older buildings will be high and could drive these landlords out of business. “Small owners cannot afford a new mandate,” she said.
Gagnon supported the amendment written by Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn, that gives mom and pop landlords more time to comply. “It gives them a longer on-ramp,” Hahn said.
The ordinance establishes 82 degrees as a ceiling, in essence saying that is a safe temperature — but any ticks above that temperature could trigger health problems such as cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and more serious effects. Heat waves, occurring more frequently due to global climate change, can cause safety risks especially for vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, children and those with medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, according to a county report.
A heat dome in Portland, Oregon in 2021 resulted in 72 heat-related deaths, the county reported. The county reported that extreme heat events are the No. 1 weather-related killer.
In community meetings over the last two years, tenants felt the number should be set at a lower temperature, while landlords wanted it set higher. The 82-degree maximum indoor threshold was set as a mid range balancing health and economic impacts, said county staff.
“Eighty-two degrees is unreasonable and junk science,” said Joseph Ramos, field representative for the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. Ramos told the board the maximum temperature should be 86 degrees.
With recent news reports on how extreme heat affects children’s ability to learn, two Los Angeles Unified School District board members wrote letters of support for the ordinance.
“Extreme heat is not just a climate issue — it’s an educational and public health emergency. When children and their families are forced to live in homes where indoor temperatures regularly exceed safe levels, it impacts their ability to sleep, concentrate, and stay healthy. This, in turn, affects students’ readiness to learn and succeed in school,” wrote Tanya Ortiz Franklin, LAUSD District 7 board member. Kelly Gonez of District 6 also wrote a letter of support.
Besides landlords taking action, tenants are free to add shades or portable AC units, without retaliation from landlords, according to the ordinance.
“As a physician, I know just how dangerous — and how inequitable — this crisis can be,” wrote Dr. David Eisenman, a professor of medicine at UCLA. “This ordinance is a necessary and pragmatic response. The 82°F threshold aligns with public health guidance and provides an enforceable standard that landlords can meet through either active or passive cooling.”