EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0339*
HOUSE BILL 339
N1 5lr2042
By: Delegates Lehman, Allen, Foley, Harris, J. Long, Martinez, Pena–Melnyk,
Ruth, Solomon, Stein, Stewart, Taveras, Taylor, Terrasa, Woods, and
Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: January 13, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Real Property – Residential Rental Apartments – Air–Conditioning 2
Requirements 3
FOR the purpose of requiring a landlord to provide air–conditioning to certain residential 4
rental units in a certain manner; and generally relating to air–conditioning 5
requirements for residential rental units. 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Real Property 8
Section 8–121 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Real Property 14
8–121. 15
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “HVAC SYSTEM” MEANS A HEATING , VENTILATING, 16
AND AIR–CONDITION ING SYSTEM. 17
(B) (1) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS IN 18
APARTMENT BUILDINGS . 19
(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS 20
LOCATED IN PROPERTY LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. 21 2 HOUSE BILL 339
(C) A LANDLORD SHALL PROVI DE AIR–CONDITIONING IN EACH 1
RESIDENTIAL UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION AS 2
FOLLOWS: 3
(1) BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2025, FOR NEWLY CONSTRUCTE D 4
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL U NITS; AND 5
(2) BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, FOR RESIDENTIAL RENT AL UNITS 6
THAT UNDERGO AN UPGRADE OR MAINTE NANCE TO THE UNIT ’S HVAC SYSTEM 7
THAT MEETS THE THRESHOLD OF “ALTERATION” OUTLINED IN THE AMERICAN 8
SOCIETY OF HEATING, REFRIGERATING , AND AIR–CONDITIONING ENGINEERS 9
(ASHRAE) STANDARD 90.1 (ENERGY STANDARD FOR SITES AND BUILDINGS 10
EXCEPT LOW–RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS). 11
(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , EACH YEAR 12
FROM JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, BOTH INCLUSIVE , A LANDLORD SHALL PRO VIDE 13
AIR–CONDITIONING IN EACH R ESIDENTIAL UNIT : 14
(I) AT A TEMPERATURE IN T HE 90% ACCEPTABILITY 15
THRESHOLD OF THE ASHRAE STANDARD 55 (THERMAL ENVIRONMENTAL 16
CONDITIONS FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY) AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR LEVEL IN 17
EACH HABITABLE SPACE IN THE UNIT; AND 18
(II) IF A DAY’S 24–HOUR TEMPERATURE AVE RAGE IS EXPECTED 19
TO BE GREATER THAN 92.3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE 80% 20
ACCEPTABILITY THRESH OLD OF THE ASHRAE STANDARD 55 AT 3 FEET ABOVE THE 21
FLOOR LEVEL IN EACH HABITABLE SPACE IN T HE UNIT. 22
(2) (I) FOR AN AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS NOT UNDER 23
THE CONTROL OF THE T ENANT, THE LANDLORD SHALL M AINTAIN THE 24
TEMPERATURE IN THE U NIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH P ARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 25
SUBSECTION. 26
(II) FOR AN AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT IS UNDER THE 27
CONTROL OF THE TENAN T, THE LANDLORD SHALL E NSURE THAT THE 28
AIR–CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS IN GOOD WORKING O RDER AND IS CAPABLE OF 29
MAINTAINING THE TEMP ERATURE IN THE UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH P ARAGRAPH 30
(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 32
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 33
application to any building construction or renovation for which the building permit is 34
issued before the effective date of this Act. 35 HOUSE BILL 339 3
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 1
1, 2025. 2