ACRules
Houston
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For Houston owners

A plan for meeting Houston's AC rule, room by room, before the deadline.

Comply by

Five steps

  1. 1

    List every habitable room

    Each room used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking needs cooling. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage rooms, and utility rooms don't.

  2. 2

    Test what's already there

    Existing cooling counts if it can keep the room 20°F cooler than outside, or at 80°F or below, and is in good operating condition. Equipment that met the Construction Code when installed is acceptable if it still works and is safe.

  3. 3

    Choose equipment for the rest

    Central air isn't required. Window units, portable units, central air, or other refrigerated equipment all count if they meet the standard.

  4. 4

    Size each room

    The code sets a temperature standard, not a unit size. The ENERGY STAR chart below is a common starting point for room units.

  5. 5

    Install, and keep moving

    Until December 17, 2026, the code expects reasonable and continuous progress. Keeping dated receipts and work orders is a simple way to show it.

Room unit sizing (ENERGY STAR)

For rooms with 8 foot ceilings.

Room size

BTU per hour
100 to 150 sq ft
5,000
150 to 250 sq ft
6,000
250 to 300 sq ft
7,000
300 to 350 sq ft
8,000
350 to 400 sq ft
9,000
400 to 450 sq ft
10,000
450 to 550 sq ft
12,000
550 to 700 sq ft
14,000
700 to 1,000 sq ft
18,000
1,000 to 1,200 sq ft
21,000
1,200 to 1,400 sq ft
23,000
1,400 to 1,500 sq ft
24,000
1,500 to 2,000 sq ft
30,000
2,000 to 2,500 sq ft
34,000
  • Heavily shaded roomReduce capacity by 10%.
  • Very sunny roomIncrease capacity by 10%.
  • More than two regular occupantsAdd 600 BTU for each extra person.
  • KitchenAdd 4,000 BTU.

Who can install it

  • Central and ducted systemsIn Texas, air conditioning contracting work requires a state contractor license. In Houston, changing an existing system by adding or removing equipment also takes a City mechanical permit, pulled by a contractor whose license is registered with the City.
  • Portable and self contained unitsThe state license law doesn't apply to portable or self contained ductless units of three tons (36,000 BTU) or less.
  • Your own maintenance staffThe license law doesn't apply to a regular maintenance employee of the owner or management company, working on that company's property, when neither does AC contracting for the public.
  • Your own homeThe license law doesn't apply to work on a home you own alone and live in.

If a tenant reports it

  • Inspection firstA 311 complaint sends a city inspector, and owners get a chance to fix the problem.
  • CitationsA criminal citation comes only after a written warning and a reasonable chance to cure. The City can also issue an administrative citation or summons.
  • FinesA misdemeanor, $200 to $2,000 on conviction, with each day a separate offense.
  • DefensesNew construction making reasonable and continuous progress; utilities lawfully cut for nonpayment where the tenant didn't pay the utility directly and the unit otherwise substantially complied; or a violation that reasonable investigation or inspection couldn't have found.
  • Leases and retaliationA lease can't excuse compliance, and owners and managers can't retaliate against a resident for reporting. What tenants can do