Spokane Council approves 'Right to Cooling' ordinance after wide debate

The Spokane City Council on July 29 approved ordinance c36877, creating a right to cooling for residential tenants and requiring that adequate cooling be provided in at least one sleeping room according to the ordinance's schedule. The measure passed 5–2 after hours of public testimony and council debate.

Supporters framed the ordinance as a public‑health response to rising extreme heat. Councilor Madeline Dixit, a sponsor of the ordinance, said the city must act after the deadly 2021 heat dome and called cooling access a basic safety measure. "This is a right. It's not a luxury," Dixit said during debate. Dante Jester of the Gonzaga Climate Institute told council that 11 of the 19 people who died in Spokane County during the 2021 heat event were homebound seniors, underscoring the ordinance's rationale.

Opponents urged more precision and delay. Council member Cathcart warned that the ordinance's standard of "adequate cooling" is subjective and difficult for landlords to meet or plan to meet, and he urged codifying an objective standard. Several housing‑sector speakers and downtown property owners told council that many older buildings lack electrical capacity and that retrofits could cost substantial sums, potentially increasing rents.

The adopted ordinance includes amendments intended to limit immediate enforcement burdens and to create a companion "trailer" amendment dealing with weatherization and funding partnerships. The sponsor noted a tenant cost‑deduction provision for installation (up to a specified amount in the ordinance) and a staged implementation timeline; the council also discussed a related trailer ordinance to address weatherization and funding.

Council members who voted in favor argued that collaboration with stakeholders and the trailer funding work will reduce unintended harms. Those opposed emphasized the need for fiscal notes, clarified enforcement expectations for code enforcement, and called for clearer numeric standards where feasible.

The ordinance now goes to whatever administrative steps the city takes for implementation; council members said complementary work on funding and weatherization will continue during the budget process.