Common interest developments: cooling systems.

Housing Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ward
Last action: 2026-05-13
Official status: Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details of the exceptions are not clear from the provided summary.

Cooling Systems for Common Interest Developments

This law makes it illegal for associations in common interest developments to stop members from installing or using cooling systems that follow state and local building codes.

What This Bill Does

Makes rules about cooling systems in common interest developments, like condos and apartments.
Says that governing documents can't ban or limit the use of cooling systems that meet safety standards and comply with state and local building codes.
Forbids associations from stopping members from installing, upgrading, replacing, or using cooling systems that follow state and local building codes.
Allows people to sue their association if they break these rules and get money for damages and legal fees.

Who It Names or Affects

People who live in common interest developments like condos and apartments.
Associations that manage common interest developments.

Terms To Know

Cooling system: A device or technology that cools the air inside a home, such as an air conditioner or fan.
Common interest development: A type of housing where people own their homes but share common areas like gardens and parking lots.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
It only applies to cooling systems that follow state and local building codes.
There are some exceptions, but the exact details of these exceptions are not clear from the summary.

Bill History

2026-05-13 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and JUD.
2026-05-05 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.)
2026-04-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-04-28 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 28).
2026-04-28 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and JUD.
2026-02-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 5.
2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1684, as amended, Ward.
Common interest developments: cooling systems.
Existing law, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, governs the formation and operation of common interest developments, and requires a common interest development to be managed by an association, as specified. Existing law includes provisions that limit the authority of an association or the governing documents, as defined, to regulate the use of a member’s separate interest, as defined.
Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, governs tenancies in mobilehome parks and includes provisions that are applicable to those who have an ownership interest in a subdivision, cooperative, or condominium for mobilehomes, or a resident-owned mobilehome park, as specified. Existing law makes any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any rental agreement or other instrument affecting the tenancy of a homeowner or resident that
effectively prohibits or restricts the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system in a mobilehome void and unenforceable. Existing law provides that a “cooling system” includes a portable air-conditioning unit, a window air-conditioning unit, a swamp cooler or any evaporative cooler, a cooling fan system, a heat pump, or any other technology that reasonably creates an internal temperature cooling benefit, and meets applicable health and safety standards and requirements imposed by law.
This bill would, under the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, make any provision of the governing documents, architectural guidelines, or policies void and unenforceable if the provision prohibits or restricts the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling
system.
system that
complies with all applicable state and local building codes.
The bill would also make any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any, among other specified agreements, deed that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system, void and unenforceable. The bill would make it unlawful for an association to prohibit or restrict a member from installing, upgrading, replacing, or using a cooling system in the member’s separate interest, or to take other specified actions in connection with the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system, subject to specified exceptions.
This bill would make an association that willfully violates these provisions liable to the member for actual damages occasioned thereby,
and
for a civil penalty paid to the member in an amount not to exceed
$2,000.
$2,000, and reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, as provided.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF