Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Houston City Council voted 12-2 to require air conditioning in all rental properties, closing a loophole that previously allowed some units to avoid cooling requirements if they had window screens.

Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh explains, under the new ordinance, rental units must be cooled to 80 degrees or, when outdoor temperatures exceed 100 degrees, at least 20 degrees cooler than outside.

Read more on HoustonPublicMedia.org

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