Lake County, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 68 F in every habitable room
- Work-space heat
- 68 F in occupied indoor work spaces
- Measurement point
- 3 ft above floor, room center
- Governing code
- 2021 IPMC, adopted at Sec. 5-4L
- Max penalty
- $500 fine and/or 6 months jail
Summary
Lake County's adopted International Property Maintenance Code sets a hard floor on rental heat: dwellings must maintain 68 degrees in every habitable room, and occupied indoor work spaces need the same minimum. The county measures compliance at a fixed point, three feet above the floor near the room's center.
602.2 Residential occupancies. Dwellings shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit (68 F) in all habitable rooms. ... 602.4 Occupiable work spaces. Indoor Occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat to maintain a temperature of not less than sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit (68 F) during the period the spaces are occupied, except for processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions. 602.5 Room temperature measurements. The required room temperatures shall be measured three (3) feet above the floor near the center of the room.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5-4L of the Lake County Code adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code as the county's Property Maintenance Code, then amends specific sections. 4 extends the same 68-degree minimum to occupied indoor work spaces, with an exception for processing, storage and operation areas that need cooling or special temperatures. 5 fixes how that temperature is checked: measurements are taken three feet above the floor near the center of the room. 2 ties electrical facility sizing to the California Electrical Code. 1.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who fails to maintain the required 68-degree heat or other amended Property Maintenance Code standards is subject to the penalties and remedies specified in Chapters 5 and 13 of the Lake County Code, per amended IPMC Sections 109.4 and 109.5. Under the Chapter 5 penalty at Sec. 5-14.7, that carries a fine up to $100 as an infraction, or up to $500 and up to six months in County Jail as a misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; an owner may appeal a notice under Chapters 5 and 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must my rental be heated to in Lake County?
How is the required rental temperature measured?
Does the heat requirement apply to home offices or work spaces?
What can I do if my landlord won't fix a habitability violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
California rules heatmap·Compare Lake County to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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