One Cooling Compliance Plan for Your Whole Portfolio
New Westminster’s new maximum-heat bylaw puts every building you manage on the hook for the cool-room rule, enforced through each building’s rental licence. Ecovision builds your documented, owner-ready compliance plan and rolls it out across your portfolio.
What the New Westminster Cooling Bylaw Requires
What changed, and what it means for every building in your portfolio.
The cool-room rule
One living space per unit must average ≤26°C from 8 p.m., 8 a.m., April 1, Oct 31.
Owner’s responsibility
Owners must maintain it, and can’t block tenants’ own cooling devices.
Tied to your licence
It lives in the Rental Units Bylaw No. 6926, the licence to legally rent.
Documented plan
The city works with owners on a compliance plan. Have yours ready first.
The bylaw exists because 33 New Westminster residents died in the 2021 heat dome. This isn’t paperwork, it’s a life-safety standard.
The City Names Window Film as a Qualifying Measure
, City of New Westminster, June 9, 2026
Of these, only window film works at the source, cutting solar heat at the glass, building-wide, permanently.
The Ecovision Cooling Assessment
No certification body exists, the city just says “conduct a cooling audit.” Ours gives you a documented, inspector-ready plan.
Facade survey
Worst-exposure walls and glazing documented.
Risk mapping
Hottest units flagged before complaints start.
Heat modeling
Peak temp, with film vs. bare glass.
Ranked plan
Interventions ordered by cost-effectiveness.
Compliance report
A one-pager you can show the city.
Compliance Tonight vs. Compliance Forever
Portable AC alone
- Works on mild nights
- Struggles in heat-dome, top-floor units
- Ongoing power cost, every unit, every summer
Window film + plan
- Cuts solar heat 50, 80%, building-wide
- Holds 26°C with one AC, even in a heat dome
- Permanent, installed in days, no running cost
The smart move: film for the building, with AC as a bridge for the worst unit.
Every Measure the City Lists, How Each Performs
We install film, but we’ll tell you the truth about every option.
| Measure | How it works | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window film | Cuts solar heat at the glass (~50, 80%), blocks ~99% UV. | Permanent, building-wide temp reduction. | Upfront cost; pair with AC for worst units. |
| Thermal curtains | Interior barrier after light hits the glass. | Cheap, tenant-controlled comfort. | Tenant-dependent; weak in extreme heat. |
| Portable AC | Active cooling, vented out a window. | Immediate relief for one room. | Ongoing power; struggles vs. solar load. |
| Ceiling fans | Air movement; +2, 3°C “feels-like”. | Cheap comfort when occupied. | No real temp drop; empty rooms unaffected. |
| Standing fans | Circulate air; night flushing. | Very low cost. | Comfort only; tenant-managed. |
| Air sealing | Weatherstrip to cut hot-air leaks. | Boosts other measures; helps winter. | Modest alone; ignores solar gain. |
| HVAC filter cleaning | Restores airflow where systems exist. | Quick win with central HVAC. | Only if the building has HVAC. |
We’ve Solved Heat Compliance in Care Facilities for Years
New Westminster extends to rentals a duty senior-living and healthcare operators have met since 2021, and we’ve done that work.
Highest-stakes buildings
Senior-living and extended-care facilities where heat resilience is a duty of care.
Compliance-driven cooling
Planned and installed to healthcare safety standards, with documentation and measurable results.
That standard, for you
The bylaw is new for rentals. The problem isn’t new to us.
Trusted Across Metro Vancouver
“It’s made my home more comfortable by reducing heat, blocking UV, and adding privacy without sacrificing light, with lower energy bills and a sleek look.”
Flexible Ways to Start
Complimentary Assessment
Free on-site cooling & solar-heat assessment with a compliance summary to keep.
Pilot Study
Film one high-exposure unit; measure before/after before you commit.
Sample Install
See and feel the difference on your own glass.
Phased Installation
Worst units first; roll out across budget cycles.
New Westminster Cooling Bylaw, FAQ
What does the New Westminster cooling bylaw require?
Under Business Regulations and Licensing (Rental Units) Bylaw No. 6926, at least one living space in every occupied rental unit must not exceed an average of 26°C between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., annually from April 1 to October 31.
Does window film qualify as a compliance measure?
Yes. In its June 9, 2026 announcement the City of New Westminster names window film among the accepted ways to reduce indoor temperatures. Film cuts solar heat gain at the glass, building-wide and permanently, with no ongoing energy cost.
What happens if a building does not comply?
The rule sits inside the rental business licence, so compliance is tied to a building’s right to legally rent. The City has said Bylaw Services will work with owners to create a compliance plan with appropriate timelines.
Is a portable AC enough on its own?
On a mild night a portable AC can hold one sealed room at or below 26°C. In a 2021-style heat dome, bare-glass top-floor units often need window film to cut the solar load so the AC can keep up.
How do we get started?
Book a free Ecovision Cooling Assessment. We map each building’s risk and give you a documented compliance plan. Flexible options include a pilot study, a sample install, and a phased rollout across your portfolio.
Book Your Free Portfolio Cooling Assessment
We’ll map each building’s risk, hand you a compliance summary for the city and your owners, and give you a clear, costed plan.
Or call us directly:
(236) 862-0052
Request your free assessment
Tell us your building address and number of units, we’ll be in touch to schedule.
Book My Free Cooling Assessment
Ecovision Window Films Corp, BC’s certified LLumar & Vista installer. Solar control, privacy, security and bird-safe film.
This page summarizes the City of New Westminster’s cooling bylaw for general information and is not legal advice. Refer to the city’s official resources for the authoritative requirements.