New Westminster Cooling Bylaw: Why Landlords Should Review Their Heat Pump Systems Before Summer

June 30, 2026

New Westminster has adopted new cooling requirements for tenant-occupied rental units, and that creates an important question for landlords, property owners, and strata owners: is the existing cooling system actually ready for summer?

The new cooling bylaw is not only about comfort. It reflects a growing concern around indoor temperatures, tenant safety, and how buildings perform during hot weather. For property owners with rental units in New Westminster, now is a good time to review existing cooling systems before tenant complaints, emergency service calls, or costly repairs happen during peak heat.

New Westminster Condo Heat Pumps

This article is for general information only and should not be treated as legal advice.

Property owners should review the City of New Westminster’s official cooling requirements and speak with the City directly if they have questions about compliance.

What changed in New Westminster?

On June 8, 2026, New Westminster City Council amended the Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw to require landlords and property owners to maintain a safe indoor temperature in tenant-occupied rental units.

According to the City of New Westminster, the updated bylaw requires at least one living space in an occupied rental unit to maintain an average temperature of 26°C or below between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am. These restrictions apply from April 1 to October 31.

The City also encourages property owners to conduct a cooling audit and work with tenants to identify the best measures for their specific building or unit before hot weather arrives.

Why this matters for landlords and property owners

For rental property owners, the bylaw changes the way cooling should be viewed.

Cooling is no longer only a “nice to have” comfort feature. It is now part of the building-performance conversation.

That does not automatically mean every property owner needs to install a new air conditioner or heat pump.

The City notes that property owners may choose whichever cooling solution best fits their building, provided the safe indoor temperature requirement can be met.

But if a rental unit already depends on a heat pump, fan coil, water-source system, or other mechanical cooling system, that system needs to be able to perform when it matters.

New Westminster Condo Heat Pump

Many New Westminster condos use building-connected heating and cooling systems

In many condo and strata buildings, the heating and cooling system is not the same as a typical detached-home furnace or outdoor air conditioner.

Some buildings use in-suite water-source heat pumps, fan coils, geothermal loops, district energy systems, chilled water systems, or other shared mechanical systems.

For the owner or tenant, the system may simply be known as “the heat pump,” “the AC unit,” or “the heating and cooling unit.” But from a service and replacement perspective, the details matter.

A water-source heat pump or fan coil may depend on both the in-suite equipment and the building’s central mechanical system.

If the in-suite unit is aging, dirty, leaking, underperforming, or connected to a system that is not operating properly, cooling performance can suffer.

Warning signs your rental unit’s heat pump may need attention

Landlords and property owners should pay attention to cooling complaints before the hottest weeks of the year.

A unit may still run but not cool effectively enough during warm weather.

The unit runs but does not cool the space properly
Airflow feels weak from the vents
The system makes new or unusual noises
The unit short-cycles or turns on and off frequently
There are water leaks, stains, or condensation issues
The tenant reports warm indoor temperatures overnight
The system needs repeated resets or service calls
The unit is 10 to 20 years old and has not been assessed recently
You have already received an expensive repair or replacement quote

Why a heat pump health check makes sense before summer

A professional heat pump health check can help identify whether the system is operating properly before hot weather creates urgency.

For many condo and strata units, a proper review may include checking system operation, airflow, refrigeration performance, water-side readings, air-side output, temperatures, pressures, and visible signs of wear or failure.

The goal is not to automatically replace the unit.

In many cases, repair or maintenance may be the right choice.

But if an older system is no longer cooling properly, has major component issues, or is becoming expensive to repair, it may be worth comparing repair and replacement options before spending thousands on uncertain work.

Repair or replace?
The answer depends on the system

Not every cooling issue means the system needs to be replaced.

Some problems may be resolved through cleaning, filter changes, airflow correction, controls, minor repairs, or building-side troubleshooting. Other problems can be more serious, especially when older units have compressor issues, refrigerant leaks, coil problems, obsolete parts, or repeated failures.

A practical approach is to ask three questions:

How old is the unit? Older equipment may be closer to the end of its practical service life.
How expensive is the repair? A major repair on an aging system may not always be the best long-term decision.
Will the repair restore reliable cooling? If the repair does not address the underlying issue, the owner may be facing another service call soon.

For landlords, this decision is especially important because cooling issues can become tenant issues quickly during hot weather.

New Westminster buildings and rental units to review

New Westminster has many condo, strata, and mixed-use buildings where individual owners may rent out suites.

If you own, rent out, or manage a unit in a New Westminster building, now is a good time to confirm what type of cooling system the unit has and whether it is performing properly.

This is especially relevant for owners and landlords in established and newer buildings around the Quayside, Carnarvon, Royal Avenue, Victoria Hill, Columbia Street, Salter Street, and downtown New Westminster areas.

Examples of New Westminster condo and strata buildings where owners may want to review cooling performance include:

RiverSky 1 — 908 Quayside Dr
RiverSky 2 — 988 Quayside Dr
Azure I at Plaza 88 — 892 Carnarvon St / Marinaside Crescent
Azure II at Plaza 88 — 898 Carnarvon St
Marinus at Plaza 88 — 888 Carnarvon St
Trapp Block — 668 Columbia St
The Quantum — 26 E Royal Ave
The Point — 610 Victoria St
The Premiere at Victoria Hill — 115 E Royal Ave
Pier West East Tower — 660 Quayside Dr
Pier West West Tower — 680 Quayside Dr
Ovation — 813 Carnarvon St
The Fraser — 258 Nelson’s Court
The Peninsula — 210 Salter St
Dominion — 433 E Columbia St
The Viceroy — 608 Belmont St
The Grove — 20 Royal Ave
The Parkside — 28 E Royal Ave
The Terrace — 15 Royal Ave
Interurban — 148 Third St
The Plaza at Plaza 88 — 900 Carnarvon St
The Portage — 260 Salter St
Excelsior — 810 Agnes St

Not every building uses the same type of heating and cooling system, and this list does not mean a building has a specific mechanical issue.

The important step is to confirm the system type, understand who is responsible for the in-suite equipment, and assess whether the unit can provide reliable cooling during warm weather.

What landlords and property managers should do before peak summer

Before temperatures rise, landlords and property managers should take a practical approach:

Confirm what type of heating and cooling system the unit uses
Ask tenants whether cooling performance has changed
Check filters and basic airflow issues
Review any past service history
Book a professional inspection if the system is older or underperforming
Get a second opinion before approving a major repair or replacement quote
For buildings with multiple similar units, ask whether condo heat pump group pricing or coordinated replacement may be available

Concerned about cooling performance in a New Westminster rental or condo unit?

West Coast Geothermal can help you review your heat pump, understand repair or replacement options, and get a second opinion before you spend thousands on uncertain work.

Request a Heat Pump Health Check

Frequently asked questions

Does the New Westminster cooling bylaw require landlords to install a heat pump?

No.

The City says property owners may choose whichever cooling solution best fits their building, provided the safe indoor temperature requirement can be met. For units that already rely on a heat pump or in-suite cooling system, the practical question is whether that system is working properly.

What temperature does the bylaw refer to?

The City states that at least one living space in a tenant-occupied rental unit must maintain an average temperature of 26°C or below between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am during the applicable period.

When do the New Westminster cooling restrictions apply?

The restrictions apply from April 1 to October 31, between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am.

What if my condo heat pump is running but not cooling well?

That can happen for several reasons, including

airflow issues,
dirty filters,
refrigerant problems,
water-side performance issues,
controls, or
aging equipment.

A professional health check can help identify whether the issue is minor, repairable, or a sign that replacement planning should be considered.

Should I repair or replace an older condo heat pump?

Repair may be the right choice in some cases.

But if the unit is older, the repair is expensive, or the same problems keep coming back, it may be worth comparing the repair cost against replacement before making a decision.

Can multiple owners in the same New Westminster building coordinate replacement?

In some cases, yes. If multiple owners in the same building have aging heat pumps or similar in-suite systems, coordinated replacement may help simplify scheduling and may open the door to group pricing.

How West Coast Geothermal can help

West Coast Geothermal helps condo owners, landlords, strata owners, and property managers understand water-source heat pump, geothermal, hydronic, and in-suite heating and cooling systems.

We can help with:

Condo heat pump health checks
Water-source heat pump service and troubleshooting
Repair vs. replacement assessments
Second opinions on repair or replacement quotes
Heat pump replacement planning for aging in-suite systems
Building group pricing on heat pumps discussions where multiple owners are interested
Support for strata councils and property managers reviewing owner-facing heating and cooling concerns

If your rental unit, condo, or strata suite in New Westminster depends on an aging heat pump or building-connected cooling system, it is better to understand the condition of the system before summer heat creates urgency.