By: Danielle M. Leidner-Peretz, Founder of DLP Government Relations LLC

When it comes to California housing policy, there is no shortage of issues to monitor. Maximum indoor temperature standards continue to be the focus of discussion; Santa Barbara takes a significant step towards permanent rent control and Los Angeles’ Measure ULA may be headed to the ballot once more.

Maximum Indoor Temperature Thresholds

Maximum indoor temperature threshold policies are building momentum at both the local and state level. This is the culmination of several years of deliberations, with 2025 laying the groundwork for further potential expansion in 2026.

In August 2025, Los Angeles County enacted a local mandate establishing a maximum indoor temperature threshold of 82 degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable rooms, applicable to the County’s unincorporated areas and cities that adopt the County’s code. Even before the County ordinance took effect, the Los Angeles City Council had already begun considering its adoption. This is not a new issue for the City, which had previously explored requiring cooling apparatus in residential rental units, but the County’s action served as a catalyst to reinvigorate the discussion.

On a parallel track, the State Legislature declared California the first state in the nation to establish a policy for safe maximum indoor temperature standards in residential housing, directing State agencies to consider the policy when establishing relevant regulations beginning in 2027. The State’s action, while not a mandate, signaled a formalized standard was likely forthcoming. A new State bill, AB 2616, would establish an 82-degree indoor temperature threshold.

The policy momentum is notable, and the practical challenges are equally real. Los Angeles’ Climate Emergency Mobilization Office acknowledged in 2024 that retrofit costs are significant, and most low-income households, even with air conditioning, avoid using it due to utility costs. Independent of those findings, maintaining an 82-degree standard would realistically require mechanical cooling in many building types, especially during extreme heat events, bringing with it unresolved issues of infrastructure upgrades, electrical capacity, grid load, energy costs, and liability exposure.

The City Council motion is pending several reports including an LADWP grid capacity study and a determination on whether state restrictions may limit the City’s action. AB 2616 was recently pulled from committee by the sponsor and appears stalled for the year. Nevertheless, the State’s declaration has opened the door to a framework that is likely to continue evolving toward a formalized standard.

Santa Barbara Rent Control

Santa Barbara is one step closer to joining the list of California cities with rent control. The city followed a predictable playbook: implementing interim measures pending permanent rent control.

The City instituted a temporary rent increase freeze in effect until December 31, 2026, or upon the establishment of a permanent rent stabilization program. The freeze is already subject to a pending lawsuit filed by the Santa Barbara Rental Property Association.

Santa Barbara’s rent control discussion has moved from conceptual to concrete. At the April 7th City Council meeting, City staff and the hired consultant presented an analysis, peer jurisdictional comparisons, and sought the Council’s direction for the framework needed to draft the ordinance.

The initial vote of 4-3 set allowable annual rent increases at 60% of CPI with a 3% cap and set the tone for the meeting. The series of votes that followed revealed the ordinance roadmap and disengagement by some members of the Council, who chose to abstain rather than outright oppose specific ordinance elements. Councilmember Jordan candidly stated his rationale for abstaining: that he could not get past the first vote, the rent cap which he opposed, making the subsequent votes “pretty much meaningless” to him.

The resulting RSO components include landlord and tenant petition processes, expanded tenant notice requirements, and a rent registry. Staff will return with additional requested research and a draft ordinance for Council consideration, followed by a public review period.

There was a moment in 2020, following statewide rent control, that I thought localities would shift their focus from failed policies to innovative solutions centered on economic growth and housing production. Santa Barbara is yet another reminder that that shift is ever elusive.

Los Angeles Measure ULA

The year began with Councilmember Raman’s attempt to advance a proposed ballot measure intended to address a potential threat to Measure ULA and minimize the measure’s constraints on development.

While the proposed ballot measure was redirected back to committee, it prompted additional motions and the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Measure ULA. The Committee is tasked with evaluating ULA related motions and helping to inform the Council’s decision on whether any ballot measure should be placed on the November 2026 ballot.

With only two Committee meetings held by mid-April, the Council extended the committee’s dissolution date from April 30th to June 1st. The compressed timeline may result in eleventh-hour decision-making.

As the City contemplates options, the proposed Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Proposition 13 ballot initiative submitted over 1.3 million signatures and is pending certification for the November 2026 ballot. Save Proposition 13 presents a real threat to Measure ULA as it would terminate the measure.

Measure ULA sits at a crossroads: the City Council is working to potentially reform it, while a statewide ballot initiative could, if qualified and approved by the voters, eliminate it entirely. There is no clear indication of which way the pendulum will sway.

Danielle M. Leidner-Peretz is the Founder of DLP Government Relations LLC, specializing in expert advocacy and ethical insight. She offers strategic counsel across a range of policy issues, delivering tailored, results-driven solutions for navigating complex government and regulatory challenges. She previously served as the Director of Government Relations for the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles. For more information, go to www.dlpgovernmentrelations.com.