Cal. Civ. Code § 410.180
Temperature Requirements
Operative Text
(A) The owner shall provide heat in every habitable room and every room containing a toilet,
shower, or bathtub from September 15th through May 31st so that it shall be:
(1) At least 68F (20C) between 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M.; and
(2) At least 64F (17C) between 11:01 P.M. and 6:59 A.M.
(B) At no time shall the heating system, required by 105 CMR 410.160(A), used during the
heating season cause the temperature to exceed 78F (25C) in any room.
(C) The temperature shall be measured at a height of five feet above floor level on a wall any
point more than five feet from the exterior wall.
(D) A board of health may alter the heating season, as defined in 105 CMR 410.180(A), by
ending it no earlier than May 15th or delaying the start date no later than September 30th in a
particular year for all residences within its jurisdiction, by posting notice of such alteration on
the municipality's website. The board of health's decision to alter the heating season shall not
be required to conform to the provisions for the granting of a variance required by 105 CMR
410.700.Section 410.180 of the Massachusetts Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation establishes specific temperature requirements that owners must maintain in all habitable rooms and bathroom spaces during the heating season, which generally runs from September 15 through May 31. During daytime and evening hours (7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M.), the minimum required temperature is 68°F; overnight it drops to 64°F. The heating system must never cause any room to exceed 78°F at any point during the season. Local boards of health have limited authority to adjust the start or end of the heating season within defined boundaries, provided they post notice on the municipality's website.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 105 CMR 410.180, compliant property operators ensure that heating systems in all habitable rooms and rooms with toilets, showers, or bathtubs are capable of maintaining at least 68°F from 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. and at least 64°F overnight throughout the standard heating season. Operators also verify that no room exceeds 78°F due to the heating system, and they monitor temperatures at the measurement point specified in the regulation — five feet above floor level on an interior wall. Because local boards of health may adjust the heating season's start or end dates within the limits set by 410.180(D), property managers generally stay attentive to any notices posted on their municipality's website that could affect compliance obligations in a given year.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
105 CMR 410.180 gives tenants in Massachusetts a clear legal standard: their landlord is required to provide heat reaching at least 68°F during daytime hours and 64°F overnight in all living spaces and bathrooms from mid-September through the end of May. If a rental unit is not meeting these temperature thresholds, tenants generally have the option of filing a complaint with their local board of health, which is the body responsible for enforcing the Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation. Tenants may also wish to document temperature readings — taken at the measurement point described in 410.180(C) — and consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of remedies that may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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