Does a landlord have to provide heat?
Short answer: In nearly every state, adequate heat is part of the landlord's habitability duty, and some states or local codes set minimum indoor temperatures and a heating season.
No heat in cold weather is usually treated as an emergency repair. Report it in writing and to the local code-enforcement office if it isn't restored.
The rule in every state
Each answer below links to the statute or official page it comes from (51 of 51 jurisdictions verified).
| State | Heat |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat, unless the building is not required by law to have heating or the heat is generated by equipment in the tenant's exclusive control and supplied by a direct utility connection. The landlord must also keep any heating system it supplies in good and safe working order. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature or heating season. Ala. Code § 35-9A-204(a)(4), (6) |
| Alaska | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable amounts of heat at all times, insofar as energy conditions permit, unless the heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, the tenant may give written notice and then buy reasonable heat and deduct the cost from rent, recover damages, or obtain substitute housing. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature. AS 34.03.100(a)(3), (5); AS 34.03.180 |
| Arizona | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat when required by seasonal weather, unless the building is not required by law to have heating or the heat comes from equipment in the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, the tenant may give notice and buy heat and deduct the cost, recover damages, or get substitute housing. State law sets no minimum temperature. A.R.S. §§ 33-1324(A)(6), 33-1364 |
| Arkansas | A functioning heating system is required only to the extent heating served the premises when the lease was signed (leases entered into or renewed after November 1, 2021). State law sets no minimum temperature. If heat fails, the tenant must give written notice; if the landlord does not fix it within 30 days and rent is current, the tenant may end the lease without penalty and get the deposit back. The tenant may not withhold rent. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-502(a)(6), (d) |
| California | Yes. A unit is untenantable if it substantially lacks heating facilities that met code when installed and are kept in good working order, and lack of adequate heating is a substandard condition. State housing regulations (Title 25) require dwelling units to be able to maintain a minimum indoor temperature. Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.1(a)(4); Health & Safety Code § 17920.3(a)(6); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 25, § 34 |
| Colorado | Yes. A unit that substantially lacks functioning heating facilities that met code when installed and are kept in good working order is uninhabitable. Lack of functioning heating from October through April is presumed to materially interfere with the tenant's life, health or safety. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature. C.R.S. § 38-12-505(1)(b)(V), (4)(d) |
| Connecticut | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat, unless the building is not required by law to have heating or the heat is generated by equipment in the tenant's exclusive control or supplied by a direct utility connection, and must keep heating facilities in good and safe working order. If the landlord fails to supply heat for reasons within its control, the tenant may give notice and buy heat and deduct the cost from rent, or get substitute housing if not restored within 48 hours. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-7(a)(4), (6), 47a-13 |
| Delaware | Only if the rental agreement says so: the landlord must supply (or arrange) water, hot water, heat and electricity when the lease so specifies. If the landlord substantially fails to provide heat, the tenant may, on written notice, procure substitute housing with rent abating, or keep two-thirds of the per-diem rent while heat is not supplied, among other remedies. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature. 25 Del. C. §§ 5305(b)(2), 5308 |
| District of Columbia | Yes. Heating equipment must keep all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms at no less than 68°F from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 65°F from 11:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., from October 1 to May 1. With a two-pipe system or any system needing more than 15 days to switch from air conditioning to heat, heat must start no later than October 15. Landlords must also have heating and hot water systems professionally tested annually. 14 DCMR § 501; D.C. Tenant Bill of Rights § 7 |
| Florida | Yes, for units other than single-family homes and duplexes (unless otherwise agreed in writing): the landlord must make reasonable provisions for functioning facilities for heat during winter, plus running water and hot water. No minimum temperature or heating season is set by state statute. Fla. Stat. § 83.51(2)(a)5. |
| Georgia | No statewide statute sets a heat requirement, minimum temperature, or heating season. Under the general repair duty, the state handbook says landlords must keep electric, heating, cooling, and plumbing in working order. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13; Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook (DCA, rev. 8-29-24), p. 11 |
| Hawaii | No statute — Hawaii law does not require landlords to provide heat or set minimum indoor temperatures. Heating equipment the landlord supplies must be kept in good working order as one of the 'facilities and appliances supplied by the landlord.' HRS § 521-42(a)(4) |
| Idaho | No statute sets a minimum temperature or requires landlords to supply heat, but a tenant may sue a landlord who fails to maintain in good working order heating facilities the landlord supplied. The Attorney General lists nonfunctioning heating units as a condition that may violate housing standards. Idaho Code § 6-320(a)(2); Idaho AG, Landlord and Tenant Manual (July 2026), p. 12 |
| Illinois | No statewide statute sets a heat requirement, minimum temperature, or heating season for private rentals. Heat is generally covered by the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and by local housing codes, which often set minimum temperatures (for example, in Chicago). Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 |
| Indiana | Yes, if a heating system is provided at the time the lease is signed: the landlord must maintain it in good and safe working condition, and it must be sufficient to adequately supply heat at all times. No specific minimum temperature or heating season is set by state statute. Plumbing must supply a reasonable amount of hot and cold running water at all times. IC 32-31-8-5(4)(B), (D) |
| Iowa | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4), (6) |
| Kansas | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat or hot water comes from equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating appliances the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. K.S.A. 58-2553(a)(3), (5) |
| Kentucky | In URLTA areas, yes: the landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1 — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or heat/hot water is produced by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities the landlord supplies must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set. Outside URLTA areas, there is no statewide heat statute. KRS 383.595(1)(d), (e) |
| Louisiana | No statute — Louisiana law sets no minimum indoor temperature or heating season. If heating is part of the leased premises, the lessor's general duty to maintain the property in a condition suitable for its leased purpose and to make necessary repairs applies. La. C.C. arts. 2682, 2691 (Civil Code lease-obligation articles 2682-2698 checked) |
| Maine | When the lease obligates the landlord to provide heat, the heating system must be able to keep at least 68°F (measured 3 feet from exterior walls and 5 feet above the floor, at an outside temperature of -20°F). The landlord must not keep it so cold that it is injurious to health and must keep pipes and systems from freezing. Falling short breaches the warranty of habitability. A landlord and tenant can agree in a separate signed writing to a lower setting, but not below 62°F, with a fair rent reduction. The agreement is revocable and not allowed if anyone over 65 or under 5 lives there. No statewide heating season is set. 14 M.R.S. § 6021(6), (6-A) |
| Maryland | Lack of heat is a listed serious defect: if the landlord doesn't fix it within a reasonable time after notice, the tenant can use rent escrow. This does not apply when the tenant pays the utility and the lack of heat is from the tenant's own nonpayment. No state statute sets a minimum temperature. The state Minimum Livability Code adopts the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, which contains heating standards, for housing in localities without a substantially similar local code. Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-211(d)(1); COMAR 09.12.54.03-.04 |
| Massachusetts | Yes. The owner must heat every habitable room and bathroom from September 15 through May 31: at least 68°F from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 64°F from 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. Temperature is measured 5 feet above the floor, more than 5 feet from an exterior wall. A local board of health may shorten the season, ending it no earlier than May 15 or starting it no later than September 30. Failure to provide required heat is a condition deemed to endanger health or safety. 105 CMR 410.180(A), (C), (D); 410.630 |
| Michigan | No statewide minimum indoor temperature or heating season was found in state statute. Where the Housing Law of Michigan applies, the owner must keep heating, plumbing, ventilation and wiring in good repair. More generally, the landlord's covenants of fitness, reasonable repair and compliance with health and safety laws apply to heating the landlord supplies. Many cities set minimum temperatures in local housing codes. MCL 125.471; MCL 554.139(1) |
| Minnesota | Yes, statewide. The landlord must provide heat of at least 68°F in all places intended for habitation, including kitchens and bathrooms, from October 1 through April 30. The only exception is when a utility company requires and instructs the heat to be reduced. Loss of heat that the landlord is responsible for is an emergency that can support an emergency tenant remedies action. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(5); § 504B.381, subd. 1(2)(iv) |
| Mississippi | No minimum temperature or heating season is set by state law. A landlord must maintain the heating system in substantially the same condition as at the start of the lease, reasonable wear and tear excluded, unless the tenant's deliberate or negligent actions damaged it, and must comply with applicable housing codes. The lease decides whether a heating system is provided at all. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-23(1)(b) |
| Missouri | No statewide minimum temperature or heating season for rentals. Heat requirements come from local housing codes and the lease. By statute, in master-metered multi-unit buildings, the utility must post notice 5 days before shutting off heat-related service for the owner's nonpayment. Tenants may then petition for a receiver, and service may not be cut while the petition is pending. RSMo 441.650; ch. 441 (checked) |
| Montana | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1 (plus running water and reasonable hot water at all times) and keep heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature is set. Exception: buildings not required by law to be equipped for heat, or units where heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control. Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-303(1)(d), (1)(f) |
| Nebraska | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat (and running water and reasonable hot water at all times) and maintain heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. Exceptions: buildings not required by law to be equipped for heat, or units where heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control supplied by a direct public utility connection. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(d), (1)(f) |
| Nevada | Yes. A unit is not habitable if it substantially lacks adequate heating facilities that conformed to law when installed and are maintained in good working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. If the landlord is required to supply heat and willfully or negligently fails to, the tenant has additional remedies, including damages of up to $2,500. NRS 118A.290(1)(d); NRS 118A.380 |
| New Hampshire | Yes. Heating facilities must be properly installed, safely maintained, in good working condition, and capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms to an average of at least 65°F; when the landlord supplies heat as part of the rent, rooms must actually be kept at a minimum average of 65°F. No heating season is specified. A landlord may not willfully interrupt heat or other utility service except temporarily for repairs or emergencies. RSA 48-A:14, XI; RSA 540-A:3, I |
| New Jersey | Yes, for buildings of three or more units: from October 1 to May 15, every unit and habitable room must be kept at least 68°F from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 65°F from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The owner must supply the fuel or energy and keep the heating system in good operating condition, regardless of lease terms, unless the tenant agrees in writing to heat a unit served by its own separately billed heating equipment. N.J.A.C. 5:10-14.3, 5:10-14.4 |
| New Mexico | Yes. The owner must supply reasonable heat (and running water and a reasonable amount of hot water at all times) and maintain heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. Exceptions: buildings not required by law to be equipped for heat, or units where heat is generated by an installation in the resident's exclusive control supplied by a direct public utility connection. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-20(A)(4), (A)(6) |
| New York | Yes, in multiple dwellings: from October 1 through May 31, the owner must heat all living areas to at least 68°F from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. when it is below 55°F outside, and at least 55°F from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. when it is below 40°F outside. Local regulations may require higher temperatures. N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 79; N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 173 |
| North Carolina | Yes. The landlord must keep heating facilities in good and safe working order (after written notice of needed repairs, except emergencies), and lack of operable heating facilities capable of heating living areas to 65°F when it is 20°F outside, from November 1 through March 31, is an imminently dangerous condition requiring prompt repair. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-42(a)(4), (a)(8)(h) |
| North Dakota | Yes. The landlord must supply 'reasonable heat' and keep heating facilities it supplies in good and safe working order, unless the building is not required by law to be equipped for heat or the heat is generated by an installation under the tenant's exclusive control on a direct utility connection. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1(1)(d), (f) |
| Ohio | Yes. The landlord must supply 'reasonable heat at all times' and keep landlord-supplied heating fixtures in good and safe working order, except where the building is not required by law to be equipped for heat or heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control on a direct utility connection. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season. Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.04(A)(4), (6) |
| Oklahoma | Yes, except in single-family residences or where service comes through direct, independently metered utility connections to the unit: the landlord must supply 'reasonable heat' and running and hot water, and must keep landlord-supplied heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season. If the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply heat, after written notice the tenant may terminate, procure heat and deduct the cost from rent, recover diminished rental value, or obtain substitute housing and be excused from rent. 41 O.S. §§ 118(A)(3), (A)(5), 121(C) |
| Oregon | Yes. A unit is unhabitable if it substantially lacks adequate heating facilities that conformed to applicable law when installed and are maintained in good working order. No statewide minimum indoor temperature or heating season. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat or other essential services, the tenant has remedies including procuring heat and deducting the cost, recovering damages, or obtaining substitute housing. ORS 90.320(1)(d); ORS 90.365 |
| Pennsylvania | No state statute sets a heat requirement or minimum temperature for rentals. Lack of heat in winter is treated as an uninhabitable condition under the implied warranty of habitability. Implied warranty of habitability (Pugh v. Holmes, 405 A.2d 897 (Pa. 1979)); PA AG Consumer Guide, Part IV.C |
| Rhode Island | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat as required by the state housing code (or stricter local code) between October 1 and May 1. Heating facilities must be capable of heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet compartments to at least 68°F, measured 18 inches above the floor, under average winter conditions. Exceptions: buildings not required to be equipped for heat, and units where the tenant controls a heating installation on a direct utility connection. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-18-22(a)(6), 45-24.3-9(1) |
| South Carolina | Yes. The landlord must make available reasonable heat (and running and reasonable hot water) except where the building is not required by law to be equipped for heat or the heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control on a direct utility connection, and must keep landlord-supplied heating facilities in reasonably good and safe working order. Heat is an 'essential service.' No statewide minimum temperature or heating season. S.C. Code §§ 27-40-440(a)(4)-(5), 27-40-210(17) |
| South Dakota | The landlord must maintain heating systems in good and safe working order (unless the tenant caused the disrepair) and keep the unit fit for human habitation. No state statute sets a minimum indoor temperature or heating season. SDCL 43-32-8 |
| Tennessee | No minimum temperature or heating season in state law. In URLTA counties, heat is an 'essential service': if the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply it, the tenant, after written notice, may procure heat and deduct the actual reasonable cost from rent, recover damages for reduced rental value, or obtain substitute housing (rent excused) and recover its reasonable value plus attorney's fees. The remedy is unavailable if the tenant, family or guests caused the condition. T.C.A. § 66-28-502(a), (c); § 66-28-304(a)(1)-(2) |
| Texas | No statewide heat or minimum-temperature requirement. State law requires only a device supplying hot water of at least 120 degrees F. If the landlord agreed (expressly or impliedly) to furnish heating equipment that produces inadequate heat, and a local housing, building or health official has notified the landlord in writing that the lack of heat materially affects health or safety, the tenant may use the repair-and-deduct remedy if the landlord fails to repair within 3 days after the tenant's notice. Tex. Prop. Code Sec. 92.052(a)(3)(B); 92.0561(d)(3)(C) |
| Utah | Yes. Each rental unit must have heating (along with electrical systems, plumbing and hot and cold water), and the owner must maintain the heating system. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature or heating season; local ordinances and board of health rules may. Utah Code 57-22-3(1); 57-22-4(1) |
| Vermont | Yes. The landlord must ensure heating facilities capable of safely providing a reasonable amount of heat, and a landlord who provides heat under the lease must supply a reasonable amount at all times (summer rentals and hunting camps excepted). The Rental Housing Health Code requires heating facilities whenever the outside temperature is below 55 degrees F, able to maintain at least 65 degrees F in all habitable rooms, kitchens and bathrooms (measured 3 feet above the floor and 3 feet from an exterior wall) without overheating one room to heat another; unvented fuel-fired space heaters are prohibited. 9 V.S.A. § 4457(c); Vermont Rental Housing Health Code §§ 7.1-7.5 |
| Virginia | Yes. The landlord must supply heat in season (unless heat is generated by equipment within the tenant's exclusive control or supplied by a direct public utility connection) and keep heating facilities in good and safe working order. Heat is an 'essential service'; if the landlord willfully or negligently fails to supply it, the tenant may give written notice and, after a reasonable time to correct, pursue statutory remedies (such as damages for reduced rental value). State law sets no minimum temperature or dates for the heating season; local codes may. Va. Code § 55.1-1220(A)(4), (7); § 55.1-1200 ('essential service'); § 55.1-1239 |
| Washington | Yes. The landlord must provide facilities adequate to supply heat (and water and hot water) as reasonably required by the tenant, and keep heating facilities it supplies in reasonably good working order. After notice, a defect depriving the tenant of heat must be remedied within 24 hours (where possible). State law sets no minimum indoor temperature or heating season. RCW 59.18.060(8), (11); 59.18.070(1) |
| West Virginia | Yes. For units served by direct public utility connections, the landlord must supply reasonable heat between October 1 and the last day of April (plus running water and reasonable hot water at all times), unless heat is generated by an installation within the tenant's exclusive control. The landlord must also keep heating facilities it supplies in good and safe working order. No minimum temperature is set by state law. W. Va. Code § 37-6-30(a)(5), (a)(7) |
| Wisconsin | Partly. The landlord must keep in reasonable repair any equipment it has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide to supply heat, and must comply with any local housing code. Before renting, the landlord must disclose if the heating facilities are not in safe operating condition or cannot maintain at least 67 degrees F (measured at the center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling) in all living areas during all seasons the unit may be occupied. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2., 5.; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2)(b)2. |
| Wyoming | Yes, but no temperature standard. Each rental unit must have operational heating (and electrical, plumbing and hot and cold running water) unless both parties agree otherwise in writing, and the owner must maintain the heating system. State law sets no minimum indoor temperature or heating season. Seasonal units such as summer cabins not intended to have these amenities are excepted. W.S. 1-21-1202(a); 1-21-1203(a)(iii) |
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.