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AB-2616 • 2026

Hiring of real property: indoor temperature.

Hiring of real property: indoor temperature.

Housing Land
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
McKinnor
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on penalties for non-compliance by landlords.

Indoor Temperature for Rental Properties

AB-2616 sets rules for landlords and tenants about indoor temperatures in rental properties, requiring safe cooling methods by a certain date.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires rental units to have a way to keep the temperature at or below 82 degrees Fahrenheit using nonmechanical cooling methods.
  • Allows landlords and tenants to agree on mechanical or nonmechanical cooling methods starting January 1, 2030.
  • Prohibits landlords from charging tenants for providing safe cooling methods.
  • Requires landlords to properly dispose of refrigerants if air conditioning units are replaced.
  • Requires a landlord to permit a tenant to install or use portable cooling devices at their own cost with five days' notice.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Landlords who manage rental properties
  • Tenants living in rental properties

Terms To Know

Tenantable
A property that meets the necessary conditions to be rented out.
Nonmechanical cooling method
Ways to cool a space without using machines, like fans or air conditioning units.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill applies only to leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2028.
  • It does not specify what happens if landlords do not comply with the new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  2. 2026-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  3. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on JUD. and H. & C.D.

  5. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2616, as amended, McKinnor.
Planning and zoning: general plan: annual report.
Hiring of real property: indoor temperature.
(1) Existing law declares that it is the established policy of the state that all dwelling units shall be able to attain and maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature. Existing law regulates the terms and conditions of residential tenancies. Existing law requires that any building with a dwelling unit maintain certain characteristics in order to be tenantable, including the maintenance in good working order of heating facilities that conformed with applicable law at the time of installation.
This bill would add a safe method in which the dwelling unit can be maintained at the maximum indoor temperature of not more than 82 degrees
Fahrenheit by a nonmechanical cooling method to the list of characteristics required for the dwelling unit to be tenantable, as provided. The bill would authorize the landlord and tenant to mutually agree to provide the safe method by a mechanical and nonmechanical method, by January 1, 2030. The bill would prohibit the landlord from passing through to the tenant the cost of providing the safe method. The bill would require the landlord to properly dispose unused refrigerants pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Air Resources Board, if an air conditioning unit required by these provisions is replaced.
This bill would require a landlord to permit a tenant to install or use, at the tenant’s own cost, a portable cooling device, as defined, or other nonmechanical cooling method to maintain the indoor temperature of a dwelling unit below 82 degrees
Fahrenheit, as provided. The bill would require the tenant to provide the landlord 5 calendar days advanced notice, prior to installing or using a portable cooling device or other nonmechanical cooling method, as provided.
The bill would apply these provisions only to leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2028.
(2) Existing law authorizes the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide technical assistance for specified purposes.
This bill would require the department to create a dedicated website offering free technical assistance and resources for landlords and tenants to comply with the above-described provisions.
Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development within its boundaries that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law requires the planning agency of a city or county to provide an annual report to certain specified entities by April 1 of each year that includes specified information, including the status of the general plan and progress in its implementation.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF