Barstow, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.030

Cooling system required

In Force
Verified 11/13/2026 · Next check 2/11/2027
BarstowInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Barstow, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.030
(a) No person shall rent, lease, or offer for rent or lease any newly constructed rental housing unit unless such rental housing unit is equipped with a cooling system.
(b) No person shall rent, lease, or offer for rent or lease any existing rental housing unit equipped with a cooling system unless such cooling system is maintained throughout the term of the lease or tenancy.
(c) Nothing in this section is intended to establish, or shall be construed as establishing, strict liability for the inoperation of a cooling system arising from ordinary wear and tear provided that such cooling system is repaired within 14 calendar days of written notification of its inoperative status.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.030 establishes two related requirements for rental housing in Barstow. First, any newly constructed rental unit must be equipped with a cooling system before it can be rented or offered for rent. Second, if an existing rental unit already has a cooling system, that system must remain functional and maintained for the entire duration of the tenancy — though a landlord is not automatically liable for a breakdown caused by ordinary wear and tear, as long as the system is repaired within 14 calendar days of receiving written notice that it has stopped working.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.030, operators of newly constructed rental units ensure that a functioning cooling system is installed before the unit is offered or rented. For existing units that include a cooling system, compliant operators maintain that system in working order throughout every tenancy. When a cooling system fails due to ordinary wear and tear, operators who receive written notice of the malfunction generally document that notice and complete repairs within the 14-calendar-day window the ordinance provides to avoid strict liability exposure.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.030 gives tenants in units equipped with a cooling system the right to have that system maintained and kept operational for the full term of their tenancy. If a cooling system stops working, providing written notice to the landlord is significant under this provision because it starts the 14-calendar-day repair period the ordinance references. Tenants who believe this provision is being violated may consider contacting the City of Barstow's code enforcement office, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether a violation can be raised as part of any related legal proceeding.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
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§ 14.546
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES

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