They say everything is bigger in Texas — and if you live in Austin, that now includes your right to a/c. The City Council just cranked up the heat on housing rules — or rather, cooled them down. A brand-new mandate now requires that every residential property must have working air conditioning that keeps indoor temps at 85 degrees or cooler. And the clock is ticking: the deadline for compliance is July 10. The new mandate, however, does not specify how homeowners must comply. Meaning, whether it’s a sleek central system or a trusty window unit — just as long as it keeps things chill, any cooling setup will do. This move comes after record-breaking heat sent nearly 1,000 Austinites to the ER last summer, with tragic losses of life. Not to mention in 2022, at least 279 people died due to heat in Texas — 137 of these were resident deaths, many of whom were homeless and without access to a/c. Inspired by state-level efforts, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes says it’s simple: if heating is a housing standard, A/C should be too. And Austin’s not alone — Dallas and Denton already have similar rules for rentals. Though the deadline for compliance isn’t until July, industry experts warn supply chain delays and a flood of last-minute upgrades could leave latecomers sweltering — and paying top dollar. Needless to say: don’t wait.

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