New Westminster's 26°C Rule: What Canada's First Heat Bylaw Means for Your Next Apartment Purchase
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On June 8, New Westminster City Council enacted Canada's first maximum heat bylaw, requiring all rental units to maintain at least one living space—excluding bathrooms—at an average temperature no higher than 26°C between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. The bylaw emerged directly from the 2021 heat dome tragedy, which killed 619 people across British Columbia, including 33 in New Westminster alone, the highest per capita death toll in the province. Councillor Nadine Nakagawa, who tabled the motion, noted that many victims lived in low-rise walk-up apartments built between the 1960s and 1980s, housing stock that was "not built for this type of climate" and now represents much of the city's affordable rental inventory.
Unlike previous tenant protections that merely prohibited landlords from banning air conditioning units, this bylaw places affirmative obligations on property owners to ensure habitability during extreme heat. However, the bylaw remains flexible on methods—landlords can use window glazing, shading, or other passive solutions rather than mandatory AC installation. The challenge lies in older buildings' electrical infrastructure, which often cannot support the increased load from heat pumps or multiple AC units without significant upgrades. This creates a particular burden for the affordable housing stock that characterizes much of New Westminster's rental market.
Zhi Qiao Guo Commentary
From a senior Greater Vancouver agent's perspective, this bylaw signals a fundamental shift in how we evaluate older rental stock. The 1960s-to-1980s walk-ups that offered affordable entry points for investors now carry hidden climate liabilities. Buyers should treat electrical capacity and cooling infrastructure as critical due diligence items, not afterthoughts. For sellers, proactive disclosure of compliance strategies—or better yet, completed passive cooling upgrades—will differentiate properties in a market increasingly sensitive to climate risk. The key is not to panic about immediate AC mandates, but to recognize that cooling is becoming a habitability standard, not a luxury amenity.