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What the NYC Cooling Law Says
The New York City Council passed Int 994, establishing new NYC landlord air conditioning requirements for rental apartments. The law applies to apartments that are rented, leased, or sublet — owner-occupied co-op and condo units are not covered.
Key dates:
- March 30, 2028: landlords must begin notifying tenants of their right to request a cooling unit
- June 1, 2030: landlords must fulfill cooling unit requests from tenants
The law does not require landlords to proactively install air conditioning in every unit. It requires them to respond to a tenant's written request — and once the obligation kicks in on June 1, 2030, they cannot refuse.
What "Cooling Unit" Means
The law covers air conditioning units capable of cooling the apartment to a legally adequate temperature. Specific technical standards are expected to be clarified through rulemaking before 2028.
Tenant Rights on Air Conditioning Right Now
Int 994 does not give you the right to demand air conditioning today. But existing NYC law already provides some cooling protections:
- Buildings with central air conditioning systems are required to maintain cooling during hot weather
- If your building has a history of inadequate cooling or your unit reaches dangerous temperatures, you can file a complaint with HPD by calling 311
- Tenants in rent-stabilized apartments may be able to seek a rent reduction for failure to provide adequate services — contact DHCR at hcr.ny.gov
What To Do Before 2028
- Keep a written record if you've requested cooling from your landlord and been refused
- Check whether your lease includes any provisions about cooling or air conditioning
- Review your building's service history on Weverit — a pattern of heat and hot water complaints is often a signal of broader maintenance failures
Who Is Not Covered
Owner-occupied co-op and condo apartments are exempt. The NYC cooling law applies only to rental units. If your unit is sublet by a shareholder or condo owner, the obligation falls on that owner, not the building's board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do NYC landlords have to provide air conditioning now? No. Under current law, most NYC landlords are not required to install air conditioning in individual units. The new obligation comes from Int 994, the cooling law passed by the City Council, and it phases in over several years: landlords must begin notifying tenants of their right to request a cooling unit starting March 30, 2028, and must actually fulfill those requests starting June 1, 2030. Even then, the law doesn't require landlords to proactively install AC everywhere — it requires them to respond to a tenant's written request and, once June 1, 2030 arrives, not refuse it. Until then, the main existing protection is that buildings with central air conditioning must maintain cooling during hot weather.
Can I force my landlord to install AC before 2030? Not under current law — unless your lease specifically includes cooling as a required service. Int 994's mandate to fulfill cooling-unit requests doesn't take effect until June 1, 2030, so there's no general right to demand AC before then. You do, however, have options if conditions are dangerous. If your unit reaches dangerous temperatures, or your building has a history of inadequate cooling, you can file a complaint with HPD by calling 311. If you're in a rent-stabilized apartment, you may be able to seek a rent reduction for failure to provide adequate services by contacting DHCR at hcr.ny.gov. And if you've requested cooling and been refused, keep a written record — it may matter once the law's obligations begin.
Does the new cooling law apply to rent-stabilized apartments? Yes — as long as the apartment is a rental unit covered by Int 994. The law applies to apartments that are rented, leased, or sublet, regardless of rent-regulation status, so rent-stabilized rentals are included. What's not covered is owner-occupied co-op and condo units — those are exempt because the law reaches rental units only. One nuance: if a unit is sublet by a shareholder or condo owner, the cooling obligation falls on that owner, not the building's board. Separately from Int 994, rent-stabilized tenants already have a tool if cooling that's part of their services fails — they may be able to seek a rent reduction through DHCR for failure to provide adequate services.
What if my building already has central air conditioning? Buildings with existing central air conditioning systems are already required to maintain cooling during hot weather — this obligation exists under current law, independent of Int 994's future timeline. So if your building has central AC and it isn't working during a heat wave, you don't have to wait until 2030 to act. File a complaint with HPD by calling 311 to report the inadequate cooling. If you're a rent-stabilized tenant, a persistent failure to maintain a service like central cooling may also support a rent reduction for failure to provide adequate services, which you pursue through DHCR at hcr.ny.gov. Keeping a written record of the problem and any requests you've made strengthens either path.
Related NYC Housing Guides
- How to Check HPD Violations for Any NYC Building
- What Is Rent Stabilization?
- How to Research a Building Before Renting
Sources: NYC City Council, Int 994; NYC HPD; BBG LLP legislative analysis, February 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
