Cooling Ordinance Giving Renters Relief

Even though summer is winding down, temperatures are still up. The City of Albuquerque has taken action to protect renters and reduce dangerous heat exposure. Ordinance O-59, which went into effect on July 1, 2025, requires all rental properties to have cooling systems. Since enactment there have been over 60 calls for service and 20 inspections conducted, which has already resulted in 19 cooling issues resolved.

City ordinances that protect renters are vital for maintaining safe, stable, and equitable communities and continue to be an urgent priority of the Mayor. These laws establish clear rules to prevent unfair treatment, such as sudden evictions or exploitative rental practices, and they ensure that tenants have access to habitable living conditions. By creating a baseline of rights and responsibilities, ordinances help balance the relationship between landlords and renters, reducing conflict and fostering trust. They also provide renters with a sense of security, which is especially important for families and individuals who might otherwise face frequent displacement. Ultimately, renter protections support housing stability, strengthen neighborhoods, and contribute to the overall health and resilience of a city.

“Having cooling in your home isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This ordinance is about protecting people’s health and well-being and making sure renters are safe during the intense heat of summer”.

The Ordinance, which was sponsored by City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, amended the Uniform Housing Code to require that landlords provide renters with cooling systems in their rental housing. Passing the Cooling ordinance is about more than protecting the community during hot summers and dangerous heat waves, it's about restoring dignity, stability, and safety for our communities. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks, especially for young children, older adults, and people with health conditions.  Albuquerque is committed to making housing more humane and resilient in the face of a changing climate. 

“No one should be forced to endure dangerous heat in their own home,” said Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. “Just as we require heat in the winter, this ordinance makes sure cooling is recognized as a basic necessity in the summer. O-59 is about fairness, dignity, and protecting the health of renters across Albuquerque, especially our most vulnerable residents.”

“Avoiding heat stroke and heat exhaustion in the summer is definitely as important as not freezing in the winter,” said Planning Department Director Alan Varela. “We strongly support this law because it helps provide basic safety for renters”.

More recently, the Mayor worked on legislation in partnership with Councilor Fiebelkorn to further strengthen renters’ protections, proposing critical provisions like prohibiting hidden fees and requiring timely repairs to rental properties, but the bill was voted down in committee. The Mayor recently launched a broad housing policy agenda, Housing NOW, which aims to modernize zoning, remove barriers to building, and use City resources creatively to turn underutilized properties into affordable housing. Importantly, it gives neighborhoods a voice in how they grow. With strategies like establishing reasonable renters’ rights, supporting home rehab and renovations, converting hotels, cutting red tape, expediting permitting, and adopting flexible zoning, Housing NOW balances progress with preserving community character.

To report cooling issues, please call 311.