LOS ANGELES, CA — Amidst global rising temperatures and on the heels of a nearly triple-digit heat wave across the City, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez (CD1), Adrin Nazarian (CD2) and Bob Blumenfield (CD3) today introduced a motion to ensure renters are protected from the deadly impacts of extreme heat. The measure would direct the City to adopt Los Angeles County’s newly passed ordinance establishing a maximum indoor temperature standard of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for rental housing.
The ordinance, first advanced by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this summer, is 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.
“In CD1, where most of our residents are renters, families are living in older apartments with little to no cooling infrastructure,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “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.”
The motion also calls on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to expand incentive programs that help tenants access efficient, affordable air conditioning, and to support building owners with renewable energy and energy-efficiency upgrades, including solar panels, battery storage, and “cool roofs.”
“Making sure residents aren’t living in extreme heat within their own home is an important first step in protecting Angelenos from the havoc being wreaked by climate change,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. “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.”
“As the Councilmember representing the East San Fernando Valley, I hear too often of constituents and families suffering from extreme heat. With the impacts of global climate change compounding every year, it’s imperative that we take action,” said Councilmember Adrin Nazarian. “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.”
“This is a critical, life-saving policy that prioritizes the health and dignity of renters, many of whom are children, older adults, people with disabilities and immigrant working families living in aging buildings without cooling. Everyone deserves to feel safe and stay healthy in their own home, and the County of Los Angeles proudly leads the way in hopes that our cities will follow," said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor, who championed efforts on the County's ordinance. “Together, we pave the way towards a more just and equitable living conditions for Angelenos.”
During major heat waves, LA County hospitals see more than 1,500 excess ER visits. Seniors are 2.5 times more likely to die from heat than the general population. With extreme heat days projected to multiply tenfold by mid-century, experts warn that without intervention, the health risks for Los Angeles renters will only worsen.
“Protecting renters from extreme indoor heat is essential to live in good health, safety, and dignity, and is all the more necessary in the face of climate change,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who supported the County’s ordinance. “This threshold gives renters the right to cool their homes and ensures they won’t face retaliation or extra costs for trying to stay safe. As we’ve moved forward with this work in Los Angeles County, I’m excited to see Councilmembers Hernandez and Blumenfield advance this work in the City of Los Angeles. Their leadership reflects a growing movement across our region to treat extreme heat as the serious threat it is—and to act with urgency, equity, and care.”
Following today’s Council meeting, Councilmember Hernandez, Councilmember Blumenfield, Councilmember Nazarian, Supervisor Solis, and advocates from Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) and SMART Local 105 held a press conference to emphasize the urgent need for this policy and to stand alongside renters demanding immediate action from the City.
"Extreme heat is the deadliest climate threat we face, and renters are bearing the brunt of it,” said Chelsea Kirk, Director of Policy and Advocacy at SAJE. “As our climate has changed, cooling can no longer be treated as optional comfort--it is a health standard, and can be the difference between life and death."
“SMART Local 105 supports setting an indoor heat threshold for rental housing—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,” said Fernando Ochoa of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union 105. “Too often, we encounter buildings lacking these essential, life-saving upgrades. We applaud Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Eunisses Hernandez for introducing this crucial policy.”
Currently, 63% of households in the City of Los Angeles are renters. Yet unlike the County, the City has not yet adopted a maximum indoor temperature standard. This motion seeks to close that gap and bring consistency across jurisdictions.
Today’s motion can be found here. Photos from the press conference can be found here.