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Default rule and exceptions
Montgomery County Code Sec. 29-30 requires landlords to supply and maintain air conditioning service in safe and good working condition, and COMCOR 29.30.02 sets a standard of no more than eighty degrees Fahrenheit in each habitable space between June 1 and September 30 of each year.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Supply and maintain air conditioning in safe and good working condition capable of maintaining no more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit in each habitable space between June 1 and September 30 |
| Tenant (single-family lease) | A lease for a single-family dwelling unit may provide that a tenant must pay, up to a maximum annual amount set by executive regulation, for the costs of maintenance |
| Exceptions | Under a single-family lease, replacement or repair of air conditioning systems is excluded from the tenant maintenance clause unless required because of actions of the tenant or any person for whom the tenant is legally responsible. |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Oct 21, 2026.
Except when required for reasonable maintenance and repair, supply and maintain air conditioning service either through individual air conditioning units or a central air conditioning system in a safe and good working condition so that it meets the requirements of Section 26-7.
landlords of rental housing must supply and maintain air conditioning in safe and good working condition that is capable of maintaining a temperature of no more than eighty degrees Fahrenheit (80°F.) in each habitable space at a distance of 3 feet above the floor between June 1 and September 30 of each year.
a lease for a single-family dwelling unit may provide that a tenant must pay, up to a maximum annual amount set by executive regulation, for the costs of maintenance ... or air conditioning systems unless replacement or repair of these items is required because of actions of the tenant or any person for whom the tenant is legally responsible
City rules rest on state law. Read Maryland's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for rental cooling: landlord air conditioning duty in Montgomery County, MD?
The landlord. Supply and maintain air conditioning in safe and good working condition capable of maintaining no more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit in each habitable space between June 1 and September 30
Are there exceptions in Montgomery County, MD?
Under a single-family lease, replacement or repair of air conditioning systems is excluded from the tenant maintenance clause unless required because of actions of the tenant or any person for whom the tenant is legally responsible.
What is this based on for Montgomery County, MD?
This verdict is sourced to Montgomery County Code Sec. 29-30. Obligations of landlords and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Montgomery County Code Sec. 29-30. Obligations of landlordsordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-21
- COMCOR 29.30.02 Air Conditioning Service Requiredordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-21
- Montgomery County Code Sec. 29-30. Obligations of landlordsordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-10-21
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