Glendale, AZ Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 29.1, Art. II
- Applies to
- Single-family, multifamily, mobile homes, boardinghouses, hotels/motels
- Minimum heat requirement
- 70°F in habitable rooms
- Max cooled temperature
- 82°F (AC) / 86°F (evaporative)
- Civil sanction range
- $100 to $1,000
- Criminal max penalty
- $2,500 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Chapter 29.1 of the Glendale Code sets minimum habitability standards for every residential rental, single-family, multifamily, mobile home, boardinghouse or hotel, covering heating, plumbing, kitchens and pest control under Section 29.1-10.
All buildings both existing and new, and all parts thereof shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All equipment, devices or safeguards which are required by this chapter or any other city code shall be maintained in a safe and operable condition.(c)Every plumbing and electrical system, heating and cooling system, ventilating system, fixture and appliance shall be properly installed, maintained in a safe working condition, and shall be capable of performing the intended function(s).(d)All exterior property, premises and common areas shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition free from deterioration and blighting conditions.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 115).
Full Breakdown
1's minimum standards to all residential rental properties in the city, including single-family homes, multifamily units, mobile homes, boardinghouses and hotels/motels. 1-10 requires every building to be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition, with every plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling and ventilating system properly installed and capable of performing its intended function, and exterior property and common areas kept clean and free from blight. 1-15 requires heating capable of safely warming every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and where cooling is installed, it must hold rooms to no more than 86 degrees under evaporative cooling or 82 degrees under refrigerated air conditioning, both measured three feet above the floor; unvented space heaters and using a stove or oven as a heater are both banned outright.
1-13 requires a kitchen with a sink, oven/range or stove, and refrigerator, each supplied with hot and cold running water. 1-16 requires an openable emergency-escape window or door in every sleeping room and working smoke detectors, installed within six months of the chapter's effective date if none previously existed. 1-18 requires the interior be kept free of insect, rodent or vermin infestation and of unsanitary conditions like excessive moisture or garbage accumulation.
Violations & Fines
A violation triggers a written notice of violation and order of compliance under Section 29.1-32, and failure to abate by the compliance date is itself a violation under Section 29.1-38. The city may proceed civilly or criminally: a civil infraction carries a sanction of $100 to $1,000 plus mandatory abatement, while a criminal violation is a class one misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,500, up to six months in jail, and up to three years' probation. Two violations followed by a third of the same kind within twelve months makes the person a repeat offender subject to mandatory criminal prosecution, and repeat offenders lose their right to appeal under Section 29.1-37(d). Appeals otherwise go to an administrative conference and then the building safety advisory and appeals board within five working days, with a $200 fee refundable if the appellant wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must my Glendale rental's heater reach?
Can my landlord use a space heater instead of a real heating system?
What happens if a Glendale landlord ignores a habitability violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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