INFORMATION ON MUNICIPALITIES’ APPROACHES TO REGULATING TEMPERATURE IN RENTAL BUILDINGS
A report detailing how various municipalities handle indoor temperature regulations in rental housing.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council
DATE: June 24, 2026
FROM: R. Carrie, Bylaw Compliance Officer
MEETING DATE: July 21, 2026
INFORMATION ON MUNICIPALITIES’ APPROACHES TO REGULATING TEMPERATURE IN RENTAL BUILDINGS
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT Council the report dated June 24, 2026 from the Bylaw Compliance Officer titled “Information on Municipalities’ Approaches to Regulating Temperature in Rental Buildings” be received for information.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
Option #2: Council direct the Mayor to send a letter to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs advocating for provincial action to address extreme heat in rental housing including amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to establish maximum indoor temperature standards and recognize cooling as a basic health and safety requirement; and amendments to the Strata Property Act to prevent unreasonable restrictions on the use and installation of cooling devices
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an overview of how other municipalities regulate indoor temperatures in rental buildings.
BACKGROUND:
At the Council meeting on September 5, 2023, Council passed motion C-109-23: “That a report be prepared that describes other municipalities’ approaches to regulating temperatures in rental units.”
This direction reflects increasing concern regarding indoor temperature extremes, particularly in response to climate change and extreme heat events.
Provincial Regulation
The Province of British Columbia has been looking at ways to regulate a maximum temperature in rental units in response to the heat dome of 2021. This includes an update to the BC Building Code in 2024 that requires all new homes and rental units to have at least one living space capable of maintaining a maximum temperature of 26°C. Changes to the BC Building Code are not retroactive so there is no requirement for landlords to modify existing buildings.
The Residential Tenancy Branch also has a mandate to ensure that rental units meet the basic health and safety standards; Residential Tenancy Policy Guideline 8: Unconscionable, Unlawful, and Material Terms identifies that a ban on portable air conditioners could be seen as unconscionable without a proper justification for one (Attachment A).
Additionally, the Province of British Columbia and BC Hydro have a program to distribute free portable air conditioners for income qualified households and individuals referred by regional health authority programs.
View Royal Fire Department Response
Heat-related calls to the View Royal Fire Department are minimal and infrequent. During periods of extreme weather, the department may respond to occasional temperature-related concerns to ensure the health and safety of residents. To date, there has been no identified pattern of widespread or systemic heat-related issues requiring enforcement action within the Town.
Municipal Approaches
Currently there is only one municipality in British Columbia with an adopted bylaw amendment to regulate the maximum temperature in rental buildings. New Westminster is doing so under the Business Regulations and Licensing Rental Units Bylaw that they currently have in place. The amendment would see at least one room in a rental unit have a safe indoor temperature of 26°C between the hours of 8:00pm and 8:00am from April 1st to October 31st (Attachment B). They are taking a proactive approach to this hiring an additional three (3) full-time staff for inspections of properties under their business licence with annual inspections of rental buildings to be carried out. New Westminster has also conducted Vulnerable Building Assessments to identify buildings and residence most critical risk and has decided to fill in the gaps in existing retrofit and incentive programs to make those buildings safer.
Municipalities such as the City of Vancouver have adopted formal motions and council-endorsed recommendations advocating to the Province for legislative changes, including amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act and Strata Property Act to support tenant access to cooling and enable local governments to regulate maximum indoor temperatures.
ANALYSIS:
Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:
| Impact Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Community Impact: | A patchwork approach across municipalities could result in inconsistent tenant protections, confusion for landlords operating in multiple jurisdictions, and inequitable standards across the region. In contrast, a province-wide framework would provide greater consistency and clarity for all parties involved. |
| Financial Implication: | Establishing and enforcing temperature standards would also present practical challenges. This work would require ongoing monitoring and inspections, technical expertise and specialized equipment, formal complaint investigation processes, and the management of potential disputes between landlords and tenants. Collectively, these functions would have resource implications for the Town and may not be proportionate to the scale of identified concerns. |
| Inter-government Relations Impact: | At present, regulatory authority regarding tenancy standards and building performance rests primarily with the Province. Municipal authority is generally limited to building bylaws, property standards, and business licensing tools. The regulation of rental housing conditions, including temperature, primarily falls within provincial jurisdiction. As a result, attempting to regulate temperature at the municipal level may create overlap or conflict with the Residential Tenancy Act, exceed municipal authority, and introduce potential legal and administrative risks. As climate change increases the frequency of extreme heat events, there is a growing need for coordinated policy that addresses minimum heating and cooling standards, building retrofit requirements, and energy efficiency and affordability considerations. These issues are best addressed at the provincial level, where building codes and tenancy regulations are established, allowing for a more consistent and comprehensive approach. |
ALIGNMENT:
The recommended option aligns with the Town’s core guiding documents as follows:
| Strategic Plan: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Official Community Plan: | Engaging with Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs advocating for provincial action will align with Policy NE4.8 Adaptation Work with other public agencies to identify and plan for the long-term impacts of climate change. This includes developing adaptation strategies to manage impacts caused by sea level rise, increased fire risk, altered seasonal temperatures and precipitation, air pollution and waterborne contaminants. |
| Other Policy Documents: | N/A |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:
The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:
[X] Inform [ ] Consult [ ] Involve [ ] Collaborate [ ] Empower [ ] N/A
TIME CRITICAL:
This report is not time critical.
CONCURRENCE:
| CONCURRENCE: | Initials | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Administrative Officer | SS | I concur with the recommendation. |
REVIEWED BY:
| REVIEWED BY: | Initials |
|---|---|
| Director of Corporate Administration | |
| Director of Finance | |
| Director of Development Services | |
| Director of Engineering | |
| Director of Protective Services | PH |
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Residential Tenancy Policy Guideline
Attachment B: City of New Westminster Bylaw Amendment to Business Regulations and Licensing Rental Units