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: 2026-04-23
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on when the law will take effect.

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 comply with state and local building codes.

What This Bill Does

Makes rules about cooling systems in governing documents, architectural guidelines, or policies of common interest developments unenforceable if they limit the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system that complies with all applicable state and local building codes.
Declares any covenant, restriction, or condition that stops members from installing or using cooling systems as void and not enforceable if these systems comply with state and local building codes.
Prohibits associations from stopping members from putting in, upgrading, replacing, or using cooling systems in their separate interests if the systems meet all applicable state and local building codes.
Allows members to sue the association if it breaks these rules and get damages up to $2,000 plus legal fees and court costs.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of common interest developments who want to install or use cooling systems that comply with state and local building codes.
Associations managing common interest developments that have rules about cooling systems.

Terms To Know

Cooling system: A device like an air conditioner, evaporative cooler, heat pump, or fan system that lowers the temperature inside a home and meets health and safety standards.
Common interest development: A community where multiple homes share common areas managed by an association.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
It only applies to cooling systems that comply with state and local building codes.

Bill History

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

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