LOS ANGELES, CA – To address the increasing extreme heat due to climate change, the LA City Council unanimously passed Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez, and Adrin Nazarian’s motion to ensure renters are protected from the deadly impacts of extreme heat. The measure directs the City to adopt, and conform to LA County’s newly passed ordinance establishing a maximum indoor temperature standard of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for rental housing. Remedies may include building upgrades, installation of air conditioners, fans, or other cooling strategies to bring the temperature down. While it is currently law for property owners to provide heat in units, a cooling method is not.
“While it’s not uncommon for residents to face 100 degree weather in the summer, areas like the West Valley and East LA regularly set heat records- we must make sure that renters are safe in their homes,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. “It is imperative to work with property owners and renters to make sure our policy is done right, with incentives to offset costs while making sure that vulnerable Angelenos don't suffer in sweltering temperatures.”
“Extreme heat is the deadliest climate threat we face, and in Los Angeles its tenants — especially low-income families, seniors, and medically vulnerable neighbors — who have been left to suffer it behind closed doors,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “Today, by passing an 82-degree maximum indoor temperature standard, we closed that dangerous gap and affirmed that housing is a public health issue in a warming world. Safe homes should never depend on your zip code or your income.”
Both the City and County’ parallel actions are rooted in clear public health evidence showing that sustained indoor heat above 82°F is tied to increased ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. In neighborhoods like the San Fernando Valley — where temperatures routinely surpass 100°F and in 2020 reached a record-breaking 121°F — renters face some of the highest risks. Low-income communities are especially vulnerable, experiencing up to four times the rate of heat-related illness as wealthier areas.
"As our climate warms, tenants in Los Angeles are increasingly subject to sweltering and dangerous conditions in their homes,” said Grace Hut, Assistant Director of Policy and Advocacy at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. “Access to indoor cooling should be understood as a habitability requirement in the same way heating is."
“Today’s vote to forward a maximum indoor temperature policy was a huge step to protecting the most vulnerable communities in LA from extreme heat as our City increasingly experiences the impacts of the climate crisis,” said Juanita Chavez, Director of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter. “This policy provides a critical opportunity to expand access to life-saving cooling, while supporting energy efficiency upgrades which will reduce pollution and utility bills. We are grateful to Councilmembers Blumenfield, Hernandez, and Nazarian’s leadership on this issue, and their efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient city for all Angelenos.”
“As working people face longer and more dangerous heat waves, establishing a strong Maximum Indoor Heat Threshold is a critical step to protect the health and safety of our members and all workers across Los Angeles,” said Fernando Ochoa, Political Director of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation (SMART) Local 105. “We look forward to the City of Los Angeles taking this important action and setting a clear standard that puts people first. We thank Councilmembers Hernandez, Blumenfield, and Nazarian for their leadership in moving this policy forward.”
In today’s meeting, Blumenfield and Hernandez introduced amendments clarifying expectations for LADWP staff to expand and align incentive and efficiency programs across city agencies, allowing renters to access and install energy-efficient AC equipment and report back on existing renewable energy-efficiency incentive programs available to apartment owners with recommendations for expanding support. The report will also consider opportunities to layer incentives for complementary improvements, such as solar generation, storage, and cool roofs on the same site.