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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 664
Chapter 664
(Senate Bill 12)
AN ACT concerning
Residential Rental Apartments – Air–Conditioning Requirement
FOR the purpose of requiring a landlord to provide air–conditioning to certain residential
rental units in a certain manner; and generally relating to air–conditioning
requirements for residential rental units.
BY adding to
Article – Real Property
Section 8–122
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Real Property
8–122.
(A) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS IN
APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH FOUR 10 OR MORE INDIVIDUAL DWELLING UNITS.
(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT
THAT IS:
(I) LOCATED LOCATED ON PROPERTY LISTED ON THE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES;
(II) PART OF A HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY
DEVELOPMENT BUILT BETWEEN 1940 AND 1950, INCLUSIVE; OR
(III) A ROWHOUSE PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT ACQUIRED AND
REHABILITATED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY BETWEEN 1960
AND 1997, INCLUSIVE.
(B) A LANDLORD SHALL PROVIDE AIR–CONDITIONING IN EACH
RESIDENTIAL UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION AS
FOLLOWS:
–1–
Ch. 664 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(1) BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2026, FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS; AND
(2) BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2026, FOR RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS
WHERE, AT ANY TIME ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025:
(I) THE LANDLORD EQUIPPED THE UNIT WITH
AIR–CONDITIONING OR PROVIDED AIR–CONDITIONING; OR
(II) A LEASE REQUIRED THE LANDLORD TO PROVIDE
AIR–CONDITIONING FOR THE UNIT; AND
(3) BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026, FOR RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS
THAT UNDERGO RENOVATION THAT INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OR SUBSTANTIAL
UPGRADE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OR HEATING SYSTEMS.
(C) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE NECESSARY FOR PURPOSES OF REASONABLE
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, EACH YEAR FROM JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, BOTH
INCLUSIVE, A LANDLORD SHALL PROVIDE AIR–CONDITIONING IN EACH
RESIDENTIAL UNIT AS FOLLOWS:
(1) FOR AN AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS NOT UNDER THE
CONTROL OF THE TENANT, THE LANDLORD SHALL MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE IN
THE UNIT AT NOT GREATER THAN 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE
FLOOR LEVEL IN EACH HABITABLE SPACE IN THE UNIT; AND
(2) FOR AN AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS UNDER THE
CONTROL OF THE TENANT, THE LANDLORD SHALL ENSURE THAT THE
AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND IS CAPABLE OF
MAINTAINING THE TEMPERATURE IN THE UNIT AT NOT GREATER THAN 80 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR LEVEL IN EACH HABITABLE SPACE IN
THE UNIT.
(D) THIS SECTION SHALL PREEMPT AND SUPERSEDE A LOCAL LAW,
ORDINANCE, POLICY, OR REGULATION ENACTED BY A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR
AGENCY THAT IMPOSES AIR–CONDITIONING REQUIREMENTS INCONSISTENT WITH
THIS SECTION.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or
application to any building construction or renovation for which the building permit is
issued before the effective date of this Act.
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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 664
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
1, 2026.
Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.
–3–Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.