Heat Relief in Charlotte
As the GCAA continues to monitor conversations around minimum housing code standards, one topic that frequently arises is whether air conditioning should be mandated in rental housing. While GCAA does not support a mandate—due to concerns around cost burdens, housing supply impacts, and existing state law limitations—we recognize the seriousness of extreme summer heat and its effect on residents.
To that end, we wanted to highlight a recent article from WFAE detailing what the City of Charlotte is doing to address heat-related risks, without implementing a local A/C requirement.
Key Points from the WFAE Report
- Extreme heat has been identified as Charlotte’s top climate risk.
- State law currently prevents local governments from requiring landlords to provide air conditioning.
- The City is partnering with the Dept. of Health & Human Services to provide box fans to at-risk residents.
- The City is also promoting cooling centers throughout the community on high-heat days.
- A state-level bill to mandate A/C in rentals appears to be stalled and is unlikely to move forward this legislative session.
GCAA will continue to track both local and state policy discussions on this issue and advocate for balanced solutions that consider both resident well-being and housing affordability.