Gov. Gavin Newsom has approved a measure requiring all California rental units to have a working stove and refrigerator.

The law, AB 628 by Assembly member Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, was signed Oct. 6, 2025, and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, and apply to new or amended leases on and after that date.

The legislation requires rental units to include a stove and refrigerator that are maintained in good working order and are capable of safely generating heat for cooking purposes and safe food storage. The law adds this requirement to the existing list of characteristics required for a dwelling unit to be habitable. Examples of other existing habitability requirements include running water, heat, electricity, and plumbing.

The law also requires a landlord to repair or replace a stove or refrigerator that is subject to a manufacturer recall within 30 days of receiving notice of the recall.

A tenant is free to provide their own refrigerator if the tenant and landlord agree to this alternative when the lease is signed. If agreed to by both parties, the law requires the lease to include specific language that informs the tenant of their responsibility of keeping the refrigerator in working order. Additionally, if the tenant agrees to provide their own refrigerator, the tenant can later inform the landlord that they no longer wish to keep their own refrigerator in the unit thereby triggering a 30-day window for the landlord to provide one to the tenant.

The law does not allow a tenant to provide their own stove.

Upon introduction, AB 628 would have required a landlord to place a stove and refrigerator in every rental unit and replace those appliances every 10 years. That version of the bill made no exception for a stove or refrigerator that was 10 years old but still in working order. The California Apartment Association was able to secure amendments to severely lessen this arbitrary and costly requirement.

To help rental housing providers comply with the new law, CAA will update its rental forms and accompanying instructions with the required language from AB 628. All existing and revised forms are accessible through CAA’s rental forms page.