Cities assert tenants’ right to cooling in a warming world

The climate is changing — and so are local policies around extreme heat as leaders scramble to address the growing public health threat of fatally high temperatures. 

Among the protections emerging in communities across the U.S. are laws that give tenants a right to functional cooling equipment. Similar to rules that require landlords to provide heating in the winter, these standards are being passed and considered by local governments nationwide, although they remain relatively rare, experts say. 

In this three-part series, Smart Cities Dive examines how these laws are playing out in communities and the challenges they pose. With perspectives from leading heat policy researchers, local officials and tenants, these stories may offer valuable lessons for city leaders nationwide as they navigate a warming world.