**Editor's note: This article was updated in August 2026 to reflect the final adopted text of Ordinance C36877. An earlier version described a separate bedroom-cooling requirement taking effect in 2032. That requirement appeared in an earlier amendment but was not included in the ordinance as passed.**

On Wednesday, July 29, the Spokane City Council passed Ordinance C36877, creating new cooling requirements for residential rental housing within the city.

The ordinance includes requirements that housing providers should address now. Unlike earlier drafts, the final ordinance does not include a future bedroom-cooling mandate. The one-room requirement described below is the operative standard for existing rental units, and it is in effect now.

For Spokane housing providers, the immediate message is practical: make sure every rental unit has a workable way to adequately cool at least one room.

What Housing Providers Should Do Now

Review each rental unit and determine whether the tenant has access to equipment capable of adequately cooling at least one room.

For many members, this may already be the case. A unit may have central air conditioning, an evaporative cooler, a window unit, or a portable air conditioner that can cool a living room, bedroom, or another appropriate space.

The ordinance does not require every room to be cooled immediately. The practical question is whether the tenant has a safe and functional way to cool at least one room in the unit.

Members should confirm:

• Which room can be cooled;
• What equipment is available;
• Whether the equipment works;
• Whether the electrical system can safely support it; and
• Whether installation would interfere with window security, emergency egress, or other safety requirements.

Housing providers should also review their leases and property rules. Tenants generally cannot be prohibited from installing or using a portable cooling device unless a restriction is permitted under Washington state law. 

Why Members Should Address This Now

If a rental unit does not have qualifying cooling equipment, the tenant may provide written notice to the housing provider.

If more than 72 hours pass after the housing provider receives the notice and the condition has not been corrected, the ordinance allows the tenant to take additional action

The tenant may:

• Terminate the rental agreement and leave the premises without further obligations under the lease;
• Pursue other remedies available under city or state law; or
• Arrange for cooling equipment and deduct the documented cost from rent.

The initial deduction limit is $500 and will increase annually with inflation. Equipment purchased through this process generally becomes the property of the housing provider.

That is why the smart approach is to address cooling before a written notice arrives.

A 72-hour period may not provide enough time to evaluate electrical capacity, obtain equipment, schedule an electrician, address an egress problem, or complete other necessary work. If a unit can be cooled, members should provide a safe and practical way to do so now.

Hardship Extensions for Older Buildings

The final ordinance does not include the bedroom-cooling requirement that appeared in earlier drafts. For existing rental units, the one-room requirement is the standard, and there is no later phase-in date.

The ordinance does provide a narrow extension process for properties that cannot comply immediately. Code Enforcement may grant an extension of the one-room requirement, but only where the property owner demonstrates both of the following:

1. Compliance would cause undue hardship. The ordinance recognizes financial hardship, the need for major capital improvements, the need for significant electrical upgrades, and landmark or historic district status as examples; and
2. The owner intends to install a centrally supplied cooling system or a permanent non-central cooling system, and completing that installation by the deadline would be impracticable.

Both conditions must be met. A hardship showing alone is not enough, and a planned installation alone is not enough.

Extensions are granted in increments of no more than two years. They may be renewed, but only if Code Enforcement determines the owner is making meaningful progress toward compliance. Tenants of units receiving an extension will receive written notice of the extension.

Members with older buildings should still use the near term to evaluate electrical capacity, equipment options, and capital needs. The extension process is a relief valve, not a planning strategy. It assumes a documented path to a permanent cooling system.

New Construction

For any building whose construction permits are issued on or after January 1, 2027, the housing provider must provide cooling equipment in the dwelling unit that conforms to applicable law at the time of installation and is maintained in good working order. The extension process described above does not apply to this requirement. RHAWA is seeking clarification from the City on the scope of this provision and will update members as guidance develops.

New Notices & Paperwork

The ordinance requires a separate and prominent notice concerning cooling rights, responsibilities, and restrictions with new leases and lease renewals.

RHAWA is reviewing the ordinance internally and will work with City of Spokane officials regarding any required notices, forms, or other paperwork changes. Members will receive additional information as those materials and implementation procedures are developed.

In the meantime, members should focus on the practical issue: determine whether each unit can be adequately cooled and correct any obvious problems.

RHAWA’s Work on the Ordinance

RHAWA worked diligently alongside local housing providers and community partners to refine and strengthen this ordinance throughout the legislative process. We actively engaged in advocacy efforts by providing public testimony at City Council meetings, coordinating and organizing a coalition letter, working with our Regent to draft an op-ed, and meeting extensively with councilmembers to discuss proposed amendments and improve the ordinance’s language. Through these sustained and collaborative efforts, we helped shape a policy that more thoughtfully reflects the needs and concerns of the housing community.

The final ordinance adopted by the Council differs substantially from the original proposal, reflecting many of the issues and practical considerations raised by housing providers and other stakeholders during the legislative process. As implementation moves forward, RHAWA will continue to work with the City and advocate for clear, practical, and effective guidance that supports compliance, promotes housing stability, and provides certainty for both housing providers and tenants.

• Watch Public Comment (July 15, 2026)
• Watch Public Comment (June 23, 2026)
• Read Steve Corker's Op-Ed (Published in Spokesman-Review on June 4, 2026)
• View Coalition Letter (Delivered to Spokane City Councilmembers, March 2026)

The Practical Takeaways

1. Many Spokane housing providers may already have units that can comply. However, members should confirm that rather than assume it. 
2. There is no later compliance date for existing units. The one-room requirement is the ordinance's operative standard and is in effect now. Members should not plan around the 2031 or 2032 dates referenced in earlier drafts and City summary materials.
3. Identify the room that can be cooled, verify that the equipment works, address any electrical or safety issues, and establish a process for responding quickly to tenant notices.
4. If adequate cooling is not provided after proper notice, the tenant may be able to purchase equipment and deduct the cost from rent, pursue other remedies, or leave the premises.
5. Be practical and be prepared. If a unit can be cooled, provide a safe and workable way to cool it now.

Resource

• Final Ordinance C36877
• Watch Public Comment (July 15, 2026)
• Watch Public Comment (June 23, 2026)
• Read Steve Corker's Op-Ed (Published in Spokesman-Review on June 4, 2026)
• View Coalition Letter (Delivered to Spokane City Councilmembers, March 2026)

^{This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Members with questions about a particular property or tenancy should consult qualified legal counsel. The material contained and represented herein, although obtained from reliable sources, is not considered legal advice or to be used as a substitution for legal counsel.}