Three City Council members introduced a motion Wednesday seeking to establish a so-called cooling ordinance that would require all rental units in the city to have a maximum indoor temperature of 82 degrees.
During a news conference outside City Hall, council members Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez and Adrin Nazarian spoke about the measure, which they said would align the city with Los Angeles County's regulations.
In August, the county Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that established a maximum indoor temperature standard of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for rental housing in unincorporated areas.
The City Council members noted that neighborhoods in the city such as those in the San Fernando Valley and East Los Angeles routinely experience 100- degree temperatures. Blumenfield, who represents western San Fernando Valley communities, noted that in 2020, temperatures reached a record-breaking 121 degrees.
Extreme heat can lead to a trip to the emergency room, hospitalizations and even death, the council members said.
"In CD1, where most of our residents are renters, families are living in older apartments with little to no cooling infrastructure," said Hernandez, who represents downtown and East L.A. neighborhoods. "Extreme heat is deadly, and without protections, it will keep impacting the same communities that are already overburdened by pollution, poverty and displacement."
"Setting this standard will save lives and ensure no one is left behind during heat waves," she added.
The motion also calls on the housing and water and power departments to expand incentive programs to help tenants install affordable air conditioning, and assist building owners with upgrades such as solar panels, battery storage and so-called "cool roofs."
"Making sure residents aren't living in extreme heat with their own home is an important first step in protecting Angelenos from the havoc being wreaked by climate change," Blumenfield said. "Without such protections, Angelenos who live in the west San Fernando Valley, which regularly hits three- digit temperatures, won't just be uncomfortable, they will be at risk for heat stroke or worse."
Nazarian added, "These standards ensure predictable and consistent requirements for rental housing, they protect public health and they will save lives. Nothing should be more important than that."
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who led the effort on the county's ordinance, thanked the council members for taking on the endeavor. For the county's policy, the supervisor explained that it took a few years before it was finalized.
"The county's ordinance is meant to provide relief to the unincorporated residents and protect them from the dangers of extreme heat in their home," Solis said, adding that it will serve low-income residents and immigrant communities, many of whom are staying indoors because of fear of immigration enforcement.
Under the county's policy, landlords are expected to allow tenants to install portable cooling devices such as air-conditioning units or fans. Tenants will be allowed to install "non-mechanical cooling methods," as well like blackout curtains, for example, to control the temperature in their units.
The county law is expected to take effect in September, but enforcement will not begin until Jan. 1, 2027. Smaller-property landlords will initially only be required to maintain the 82-degree temperature standard in at least one habitable room, but the requirement will expand to all rooms on Jan. 1, 2032.
On the city's side, enforcement of the policy will be part of future discussions. Blumenfield noted that it will be like any other health ordinance.
"We have mechanisms in place already to enforce habitability, and there's some severe standards," Blumenfield said. "We have our REAP program. ... There are some very strong tools that are already out there, tried and tested, have been used on a variety of requirements for rental units."
Representatives of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, a tenants advocacy group, and SMART Local 105 joined elected officials for the announcement.
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Fernando Ochoa of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 105 said his labor group supported the proposed policy.
"...Our members install and maintain the HVAC systems and cooling roofs that make safe, comfortable homes possible, and we know firsthand how critical this protection is for families across Los Angeles," Ochoa said. "Too often, we encounter buildings lacking these essential, life-saving upgrades."
Alejandro Campillo, a representative of SAJE, told City News Service that many of the group's members live in the city. The organization is based in South Los Angeles.
"Climate issues are tenant issues, and vice versa," Campillo said. "I mean, there's just so many ways in which housing is leading to climate change and climate change is leading to worse housing. Being able to work on something like this that impacts our members, and also climate change, it speaks to what SAJE is all about."
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