As summer approaches, the Austin City Council unanimously passed a new property care code Thursday that requires all city homes to have working air conditioning.
This is a significant policy change meant to protect public health during extreme temperatures. The law doesn’t require central air systems. Still, it does say that homeowners and landlords must place equipment, like window or portable units, that can cool the inside of a building at least 15 degrees below the temperature outside, as long as the temperature inside doesn’t go over 85°F.
This rule applies to all “habitable” rooms in a house, such as kitchens, living rooms, and beds. “Knowing that Austinites were living in very hot conditions, I’m very happy to see this move forward,” said Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, who helped lead the effort and represents parts of Southeast Austin…