New Cooling Requirements for Austin Residences

The summer heat has finally caught up with us, and now the City has made sure that everyone has the right to a cooler, safer living space.

As of July, a new update to the technical building code requires that residences (including apartments and multi-family complexes) must be able to stay at or below 85 degrees indoors, and at least 15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. This is part of a series of building code updates that the City Council adopted earlier this year to boost safety and resilience across our community.

The code doesn’t require a specific type of equipment. Central HVAC, window units, or portable AC systems are all fine, as long as they can keep temperatures within the required range, and don’t cause other violations, like blocking an emergency exit window.

For further info, the City’s Development Services Department (DSD) is hosting a free webinar on Monday, Aug 26th as part of the DSD Info Series. The session — fittingly called “The Cool Down” — will cover the new cooling requirements, when permits are needed, and other helpful resources. For more info and webinar registration, please visit publicinput.com/dsdinfoseries.

If you need help bringing your property up to compliance, Mercury Permits is happy to help you navigate the process. Drop us a line for more info and assistance today!