California AB 628: All Rentals Must Now Include a Working Stove and Refrigerator

California Assembly Bill 628 took effect January 1, 2026, and the impact on the appliance service industry is straightforward: every rental unit in the state must now include a functioning stove and refrigerator. Landlords who provide recalled appliances must repair or replace them within 30 days of notification.

That covers approximately 5.9 million renter-occupied housing units in California — roughly 44% of all housing in the state.

What the Law Actually Requires

AB 628 amends California Civil Code Section 1941.1 to add a stove and refrigerator to the list of habitability requirements for residential rental properties. Previously, landlords were required to provide plumbing, heating, electrical, and basic sanitation — but kitchen appliances were not explicitly mandated statewide. Some local jurisdictions had their own rules, but coverage was inconsistent.

The key provisions:

• A functioning stove (gas or electric) must be provided in every rental unit
• A functioning refrigerator must be provided in every rental unit
• Recalled appliances must be repaired per the manufacturer's recall remedy or replaced within 30 days
• Applies to new and renewed leases signed on or after January 1, 2026
• Landlords bear all costs of initial provision, repair, and replacement due to normal wear

The law doesn't specify minimum size, brand, or energy rating. A working 18-cubic-foot top-freezer and a basic four-burner range satisfy the requirement.

Why This Matters for Repair Businesses

Volume. California has roughly 17.5 million rental units across residential and commercial categories. Even a fraction of those needing appliance service, inspection, or installation creates significant demand. Property management companies are already scrambling to audit their portfolios for compliance.

Recurring revenue. Landlords who previously told tenants "it's your problem" now have a legal obligation to maintain these appliances. That means service contracts, preventive maintenance agreements, and faster response times on repair requests — all billable to the property owner, not the tenant.

Recall compliance. The 30-day recall repair window is tight. Landlords need to know which of their appliances are under active CPSC recalls, and they need a technician who can perform the remedy quickly. Consider offering a recall audit service — check model and serial numbers against the CPSC database across an entire property portfolio.

What Landlords Are Doing

The California Apartment Association issued guidance to members in December 2025 recommending three steps: inventory all appliances by unit, check every unit against active CPSC recalls, and establish a relationship with a licensed appliance repair company for ongoing maintenance.

Large property management firms are moving toward standardized appliance packages — typically a basic GE or Whirlpool range and an 18-cubic-foot top-freezer refrigerator — to simplify replacement inventory and reduce per-unit costs. Some are negotiating volume pricing with regional appliance distributors.

Smaller landlords, particularly individual owners with one to four units, are the ones most likely to be caught off guard. Many of these units have never had landlord-provided appliances. They're buying refurbished units, which means they'll need installation and potentially gas line or electrical work.

The Opportunity

This law creates a predictable, regulation-driven demand floor for appliance services in California. It's not a one-time bump — it's an ongoing obligation that generates recurring service calls, installation work, and compliance inspections for as long as the law is in effect.

For more on California-specific regulations affecting the trade, see our coverage of California's right-to-repair law and the 2026 EPA refrigerant transition.