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*sb0012*
SENATE BILL 12
C9, N1 (6lr1257)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judicial Proceedings/Economic Matters —
Introduced by Senator West
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Residential Rental Apartments – Air–Conditioning Requirement 2
FOR the purpose of requiring a landlord to provide air–conditioning to certain residential 3
rental units in a certain manner; and generally relating to air –conditioning 4
requirements for residential rental units. 5
BY adding to 6
Article – Real Property 7
Section 8–122 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
2 SENATE BILL 12
Article – Real Property 1
8–122. 2
(A) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS IN 3
APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH FOUR 10 OR MORE INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS. 4
(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT 5
THAT IS: 6
(I) LOCATED LOCATED ON PROPERTY LISTED O N THE 7
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES; 8
(II) PART OF A HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY 9
DEVELOPMENT BUILT BETWEEN 1940 AND 1950, INCLUSIVE; OR 10
(III) A ROWHOUSE PUBLIC HOUS ING UNIT ACQUIRED AN D 11
REHABILITATED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY BETWEEN 1960 12
AND 1997, INCLUSIVE. 13
(B) A LANDLORD SHALL PROVI DE AIR –CONDITIONING IN EACH 14
RESIDENTIAL UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION AS 15
FOLLOWS: 16
(1) BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2026, FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTE D 17
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS; AND 18
(2) BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2026, FOR RESIDENTIAL RENT AL UNITS 19
WHERE, AT ANY TIME ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025: 20
(I) THE LANDLORD EQUIPPED THE UNIT WITH 21
AIR–CONDITIONING OR PROVIDED AIR–CONDITIONING; OR 22
(II) A LEASE REQUIRED THE L ANDLORD TO PROVIDE 23
AIR–CONDITIONING FOR THE UNIT; AND 24
(3) BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026, FOR RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS 25
THAT UNDERGO RENOVATION THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OR SUBSTANTIAL 26
UPGRADE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OR HEATING SYSTEMS. 27
(C) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE N ECESSARY FOR PURPOSE S OF REASONABLE 28
MAINTENANCE AND REPA IR, EACH YEAR FROM JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, BOTH 29
INCLUSIVE, A LANDLORD SHALL PRO VIDE AIR –CONDITIONING IN EACH 30
RESIDENTIAL UNIT AS FOLLOWS: 31
SENATE BILL 12 3
(1) FOR AN AIR –CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS NOT U NDER THE 1
CONTROL OF THE TENANT, THE LANDLORD SHALL MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE IN 2
THE UNIT AT NOT GREATER THAN 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE 3
FLOOR LEVEL IN EACH HABITABLE SPACE IN THE UNIT; AND 4
(2) FOR AN AIR –CONDITIONING SY STEM THAT IS UNDER T HE 5
CONTROL OF THE TENAN T, THE LANDLORD SHALL E NSURE THAT THE 6
AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS IN GOOD WORKING O RDER AND IS CAPABLE OF 7
MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE IN THE UNIT AT NOT GREATER THAN 80 DEGREES 8
FAHRENHEIT AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR LEVEL IN EACH HABITA BLE SPACE IN 9
THE UNIT. 10
(D) THIS SECTION SHALL PR EEMPT AND SUPERSEDE A LOCAL LAW , 11
ORDINANCE, POLICY, OR REGULATION ENACTED BY A POLITICAL SUB DIVISION OR 12
AGENCY THAT IMPOSES AIR–CONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS INCONSISTENT W ITH 13
THIS SECTION. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 15
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 16
application to any building construction or renovation for which the building permit is 17
issued before the effective date of this Act. 18
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 19
1, 2026. 20
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.