City of Ann Arbor’s Green Rental Housing Ordinance Goes into Effect Jan. 6, 2026
Starting on January 6, 2026, the City’s Green Rental Housing Ordinance takes effect, requiring every rental unit in Ann Arbor to meet a minimum energy efficiency level at the time of its rental inspection. Passed in June 2025, the Ordinance helps ensure that all rental units in Ann Arbor meet a minimum baseline of health, comfort, and efficiency as Ann Arbor works to achieve its A2ZERO carbon neutrality goals while reducing energy costs.
Rental units can meet the requirements of the Ordinance through one of two pathways – the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Pathway or the Checklist Pathway.
Properties pursuing the HERS Pathway will need to have a certified HERS rater perform a HERS assessment and achieve a score of 110 or lower (lower numbers are more efficient, with zero being a net-zero building) by the time of the rental inspection. HERS is an industry standard that is nationally recognized for inspecting and calculating the energy performance of buildings.
Those pursuing the Checklist Pathway will use a checklist created by the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) to achieve a minimum score. The requirements for the Checklist Pathway will phase in over time. Units inspected from Jan. 6, 2026, through Jul. 5, 2028, will need to receive at least 70 points on the Checklist out of a possible 308. Units inspected after Jul. 5, 2028, will need to score at least 110 points out of the possible 308.
Regardless of which pathway a property pursues, help is available. OSI has created a Resource Hub for Property Owners that has simple steps and walkthroughs for compliance, a compilation of financial incentives that can unlock tens of thousands of dollars, and all of the key materials for the ordinance. Renters can also use a Renter Resource Hub to find tips for lowering their energy bills.
In service to the City of Ann Arbor’s A2ZERO Plan, The Office of Sustainability and Innovations continues to work on policies, initiatives, and programs to help our community reduce the carbon emissions from buildings while simultaneously improving health, safety, indoor air quality, and overall comfort. The Green Rental Housing Ordinance is the latest of these policies. Learn more at a2zero.org.
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