Contact Us
Online
Services

Cooling Requirements for Rental Units

On June 8, 2026, City Council amended the Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw to require landlords and property owners to maintain a safe indoor temperature in a rental unit occupied by a tenant. The updated bylaw now requires at least one living space in a rental unit occupied to not exceed a safe indoor temperature of an average of 26°C between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am. The restrictions are in effect from April 1 to October 31.

Background

In response to the 2021 heat dome event, where 33 New Westminster residents died due to extreme heat, New Westminster City Council directed staff to amend its bylaws to protect tenants from similar preventable fatalities in the future.

This direction led to two bylaw amendments: the first, adopted in 2025, prohibits property owners from prohibiting cooling devices (A/Cs) in rental units; the second requires property owners to maintain a safe indoor temperature in at least one living space in a rental unit occupied by a tenant.

These two bylaw amendments build on our ongoing efforts to protect tenants and create a climate-resilient community.

Information & Resources for Property Owners

Property owners are encouraged to conduct a cooling audit and work with tenants to identify the best measures and options for their particular context, in advance of hot weather. Property owners may choose whichever cooling solution best fits their building while maintaining the safe indoor temperature. Low-cost ways to reduce indoor temperatures include:

  • Closing curtains/blinds during the day
  • Creating a cross-breeze
  • Using fans to draw in cold air/push out hot air during cooler periods
  • Installing thermal/reflective curtains
  • Applying thermal window films
  • Using portable air conditioning units
  • Using ceiling fans
  • Using standing fans
  • Weather stripping gaps in doors and windows to keep hot air out
  • Cleaning HVAC filters
  • Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs

Owners are also encouraged to take advantage of a free energy assessments and free guides on low-cost, low-energy cooling options. More information can be found at Energy Save New West.

Contact Us

For questions or more information on the bylaw, including enforcement inquiries, please contact Bylaw Services at 604-527-4657 or

For resources and information on cooling solutions, please contact Climate Action at

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    When do the temperature restrictions apply?
    The restrictions apply from April 1 to October 31 from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am.

    What do I do if I think my rental unit exceeds the maximum temperature?
    Tenants and property owners are encouraged to work together to resolve issues directly. Property owners, or their authorized property manager, should be the first to know about conditions in their buildings and be given a chance to take corrective action.

    If a collaborative discussion isn’t possible, tenants may call Bylaw Services at 604‑527‑4657. If appropriate, a file will be opened and the matter will be referred to a Tenant Support Coordinator for investigation.

    As a property owner, what can I do to proactively ensure my rental units comply with the bylaw requirements?  
    Property owners are encouraged to conduct a cooling audit and work with tenants to identify the best measures and options for their particular context, in advance of hot weather.

    Property owners should ensure tenants have a clear way to reach a property manager or representative who can respond to concerns. They should also stay informed about extreme weather events and investigate and address concerns with urgency given  the potential impact to life safety.

    Are property owners required to install air conditioners or heat pumps?
    No. Property owners may choose whichever cooling solution best fits their building while maintaining the safe indoor temperature. However, if a unit does not already have air conditioning or another installed cooling system, owners cannot prevent tenants from using portable cooling devices.

    If the temperature exceeds the maximum, why can’t the tenant just go purchase a portable cooling device?
    The tenant may purchase a portable cooling device; however, the owner is ultimately responsible for ensuring a living space in the rental unit maintains the safe indoor temperature.

    What if I can’t afford to install cooling measures? What are my options? 
    There are several low-cost ways to reduce indoor temperatures. These include:

    • Closing curtains/blinds during the day
    • Creating a cross-breeze
    • Using fans to draw in cold air/push out hot air during cooler periods
    • Installing thermal/reflective curtains
    • Applying thermal window films
    • Using portable air conditioning units
    • Using ceiling fans
    • Using standing fans
    • Weather stripping gaps in doors and windows to keep hot air out
    • Cleaning HVAC filters
    • Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs
       

    Energy Save New West also has resources and programs to help identify energy saving and cooling opportunities within buildings.

    Note that if reasonable efforts are exhausted and it is not possible to reduce temperatures further, an owner may submit a request for an exemption under s. 34 (f) of the bylaw to the building official. The exemption application must include a report prepared by a registered professional documenting the significant hurdles to achieve the safe indoor temperature in a living space. The exemption, if granted, will be valid for two years, after which the owner would need to submit a new application, demonstrating it is still not possible to achieve the safe indoor temperature. The reason for the two-year timeline is to recognize that technology continues to improve in all areas related to cooling and there may be additional opportunities that could improve the habitability of the units in future.

    What if the building has a common room that is cooled to under 26°C?  Do I still have to ensure there is a room in each unit that can meet this standard?
    Yes. Each tenant must have at least one room, excluding the kitchen and bathroom, within their own unit that maintains an average of 26°C or below between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am.

    Are there fines associated with this new violation?
    Yes. Fines range from $200 and $750, and ticket may be issued daily.

    Will a building owner be fined if they are in the process of identifying cooling measures and/or procuring equipment during a heat event that results in a max temperature violation?
    Bylaw Services will work with owners to create a compliance plan with appropriate timelines. The intent of ticketing is to encourage compliance when voluntary compliance has failed or stalled.