The new mandate does not specify what type of air conditioning unit must be used, meaning window units, portable a/c, central systems, or any other systems meeting temperature criteria can be used.  

“To enhance protections during extreme heat events, the updated code requires that all buildings — both new and existing — provide and maintain air conditioning systems that can keep indoor temperatures no higher than 85° and at least 15° cooler than outside,” the city’s official website states. 

The move is part of an effort to combat extreme heat events, which last year sent nearly 1,000 people to the emergency room, and ultimately claimed the lives of 15 people.   

Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, who introduced the measure, said she was inspired by legislation that was introduced at the state level.  

“Just like we have heating requirements for all property owners, we want to ensure that we were able to pair it with air conditioning as well,” Fuentes said. “This requirement is not unique to Texas. There are other Texas cities that have this.” 

Dallas and Denton require rental homes to have a/c, and in Austin, there’s a requirement that existing air conditioners actually work. 

“But if a home did not have any form of air conditioning, the city had no regulation to force owners to install equipment,” reported KUT Radio, Austin’s NPR station. 

The new requirement will also help to combat other IAQ issues, like the formation of mold due to unchecked humidity. The resolution passed by the Austin council adds that “open windows are not an adequate substitution for air conditioning because as humidity and temperatures rise, they can make homes more humid and feel warmer.” 

This resolution has been in motion since August 2023, when the council noted that the city code did not require a/c despite “soaring summer temperatures in Texas.” At that time, the resolution also states that paramedics had responded to 176 heat-related calls so far in July, “which averages out to about nine calls per day, compared with approximately eight calls per day in June, when paramedics responded to 234 heat-related calls total.” 

In 2022, at least 279 people died due to heat in Texas, the resolution states, 137 of which were resident deaths, many of whom were homeless and without access to a/c.  

Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning, which serves the Austin area, recommends that any a/c system more than eight years old should be examined, as they often can’t meet today’s cooling demands.  

With tariffs, shortages, and an anticipated colossal increase in demand due to the new mandate, Radiant recommends getting a system installed or replaced ASAP, because costs could spike with little warning. This is all exacerbated by supply chain disruptions and extended lead times.  

“Then there’s the July 10 deadline. As more homeowners and landlords rush to upgrade, installation slots are going fast. And in the middle of a Texas summer, that’s a recipe for long waitlists and a lot of uncomfortable afternoons,” Radiant’s website states. “If you’re thinking about upgrading, now’s the time to move. Today’s price and availability won’t last — and neither will your patience when the heat sets in.” 

While many are celebrating the mandate's passage, there are groups that are raising concerns about the cost of this initiative, specifically landlords.  

“Many older buildings, especially those built before 1970, were not designed with modern HVAC systems in mind,” Emily Blair, executive vice president of the Austin Apartment Association, told KUT Radio. “For those buildings, retrofitting every habitable room to meet the new standards could be financially devastating.”