Are landlords required to provide window screens?

Last updated 2026-07-26

are landlords required to provide screens for windows?

It depends entirely on where the property sits. There's no federal law that says a rental unit needs window screens. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Quality Standards, used for Section 8 and voucher-assisted units, don't list screens as a mandatory pass/fail item the way they do for things like working locks or a functioning heat source ^[1]. State landlord-tenant statutes are usually general on this point too. Most states require landlords to keep a unit "fit for human habitation" and to maintain plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and structural elements in working order, but they rarely name window screens specifically. That leaves the real answer sitting at the city or county level, in local housing and building codes. A good number of cities do require screens, especially ones with a long mosquito season or a history of adopting stricter versions of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). The IPMC, which many municipalities adopt wholesale or in modified form, states in Section 304.14 that "every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms...shall be supplied with screens" during the period from April 1 to December 1 in climates where insects are a health concern, unless the space is air-conditioned or otherwise protected ^[2]. If your city adopted the IPMC without stripping that section out, screens are legally required on operable windows during warm months. So the honest answer is: read your local code before you assume either way. Some landlords assume screens are optional because their lease doesn't mention them. Some tenants assume screens are guaranteed because they've always had them. Neither assumption is safe.

what does the international property maintenance code actually say about screens?

Section 304.14 of the IPMC is the specific clause most cities borrow from when they require screens. The exact text reads: "During the period from April 1 to December 1, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or processed in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with screens covering all openings and voids to prevent the entry of insects..." ^[2]. A few things matter in that language. First, it's tied to a season, not a year-round mandate everywhere it's adopted; the April to December window is the model code default, though individual cities sometimes change the dates or drop the seasonal limit entirely when they adopt it locally. Second, it only covers windows "required for ventilation," meaning operable windows, not fixed or decorative windows that don't open. Third, air-conditioned units are sometimes exempted, depending on how a city customized the clause. Cities don't have to adopt the IPMC as-is. Many amend individual sections, and 304.14 is one that gets tweaked or dropped in some jurisdictions. That's why you can't rely on "the IPMC requires it" as a blanket rule. You have to confirm your specific city's adopted version. If you're managing property in a licensed-rental city, the local rental registration or licensing office usually has a link to the adopted maintenance code, or a housing inspector who can tell you directly.

which cities specifically require window screens?

IPMC-adopting city (unmodified)	Screens required April 1 to Dec 1 on operable windows [2]	City building/housing code office
Chicago	Screens required on ventilation windows year-round per municipal code [3]	Department of Buildings
Minneapolis	Screens checked during rental licensing inspection [4]	Minneapolis Regulatory Services
No local code adopted	No screen mandate; falls to lease terms and general habitability	State landlord-tenant statute	If your city isn't on a list like this, that doesn't mean there's no rule. It just means you need to pull the actual code section. Search "[your city] property maintenance code screens" or call the housing inspector's office directly. This is a five-minute phone call that saves you a failed inspection later.

Enforcement varies a lot by city, and this is a case where you genuinely need to confirm with your city rental licensing office rather than trust a general list, because codes change and get amended locally. That said, here are examples of jurisdictions known for a screen requirement: Chicago's Municipal Code requires that every window used for ventilation in a dwelling unit have a screen, under the city's minimum housing standards for insect and pest control found in Chapter 13-196 of the Municipal Code of Chicago ^[3]. Minneapolis similarly requires screens on operable windows as part of its rental licensing inspection checklist, tied to the city's adoption of maintenance code provisions for insect exclusion ^[4]. Many mid-size Midwest and Southeast cities with active seasonal mosquito or fly populations tend to carry a version of this rule because they adopted the IPMC or a state-modified version of it wholesale. | City type | Typical screen requirement | Where to confirm |

what happens if a rental doesn't have window screens during an inspection?

In a city where screens are required by code, a missing or torn screen is typically written up as a minor violation, the same category as a loose handrail or a missing smoke detector cover. It's rarely the kind of violation that gets a unit condemned, but it can hold up a rental license renewal or trigger a reinspection fee. Reinspection fees vary widely by city, commonly ranging from roughly $50 to $200 or more depending on the municipality (confirm with your city rental licensing office for the exact amount, since this is one of the most locally variable fees in rental compliance). Some cities give you a fix-it window, often 10 to 30 days, before the violation escalates to a fine. Others cite you immediately if the inspector finds a hazard tied to the missing screen, like evidence of a pest infestation. Worth noting: an inspector checking for screens is usually also checking whether the window itself opens and closes properly, has a functioning lock, and isn't painted shut. Screens often get flagged in the same breath as these other window issues because they're inspected together as part of the ventilation and egress review.

what can a landlord look at during an inspection?

A rental inspection, whether it's a city-mandated licensing inspection or a routine walkthrough, generally covers habitability and safety items: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, working locks on doors and windows, functioning heat, electrical outlets and panel condition, plumbing leaks, pest evidence, and structural issues like broken stairs or unsafe railings. Window screens fall into this category in cities where local code requires them. Landlords conducting a walkthrough (as opposed to a government inspector) can generally look at anything related to the physical condition of the unit and lease compliance: property damage, unauthorized occupants, unauthorized pets, obvious lease violations. What they typically cannot do is search personal belongings, go through drawers or closets, or use the inspection as a pretext to harass a tenant. Most states require advance notice before a landlord or their agent enters for a routine inspection, commonly 24 to 48 hours, though the exact requirement is set by state statute and varies (see the section on notice below). If you're prepping a unit ahead of a city licensing inspection, it helps to walk the whole checklist yourself first. Municipal inspection checklists usually list every item, screens included, that the inspector will look for line by line.

who is responsible for a rental property walk-through inspection in california?

In California, move-in and move-out inspections are governed by California Civil Code Section 1950.5, which requires landlords to conduct an initial inspection before the tenant vacates if requested, giving the tenant a chance to fix issues before the final deposit deduction happens ^[5]. The landlord (or their agent) is responsible for conducting this inspection and must give the tenant at least 48 hours' written notice, unless the tenant waives that notice, and must provide an itemized statement of any deficiencies noted ^[5]. For move-in condition, California doesn't mandate a specific joint walkthrough by statute the way some other states do, but it's standard and smart practice for the landlord to document unit condition with photos and a written checklist at move-in, since Civil Code 1950.5 puts the burden on the landlord to justify any deposit deductions with evidence tied to actual damage beyond normal wear and tear. None of this is legal advice, and California cities layer their own rental registration and inspection rules on top of state law (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland each have their own systems). If you're operating in one of those cities, check that city's rental housing program separately from the state deposit statute.

what is landlording and what is a landlord, exactly?

A landlord is the owner (or an entity acting on the owner's behalf, like a property manager) who leases real property to a tenant in exchange for rent. Landlording, informally, is the ongoing work of managing that relationship: collecting rent, maintaining the property, handling repairs, following state and local landlord-tenant law, and managing the inspection or licensing requirements a city might impose. For a 1-to-10-unit landlord, landlording usually means wearing every hat yourself: leasing agent, maintenance coordinator, bookkeeper, and code compliance officer all at once. That's exactly why local ordinance notices catch people off guard. A big property management company has a compliance department. A landlord with three units doesn't, and often finds out about a screen requirement, a licensing deadline, or an inspection fee only after a notice shows up in the mail. If you're new to this and wondering how to become a landlord or how to be a landlord day to day, the core skills are: know your state's landlord-tenant statute, know your city's rental licensing or registration rules if it has any, keep a maintenance log, and respond to repair requests in writing so you have a record.

how to become a landlord: what actually has to happen first?

Becoming a landlord legally usually involves a few concrete steps beyond just buying a property and finding a tenant. Most mandatory-licensing cities require you to register the rental with the city (sometimes called a rental license, a certificate of occupancy for rental use, or a rental registration) before you can legally lease it. Skipping this step is one of the most common ways new landlords end up with a fine before they've collected a single month's rent. The general path looks like this: confirm whether your city requires rental registration or licensing (many mid-size and large cities do; plenty of smaller towns and unincorporated areas don't); if it does, register before or shortly after your first tenant moves in, since most cities set a deadline tied to purchase date or lease start; schedule the initial inspection if one is required, which is where things like window screens, smoke detectors, and egress windows get checked; get familiar with your state's landlord-tenant act for notice periods, security deposit limits, and habitability duties; and set up a system for tracking lease renewals, inspection cycles, and license renewal dates, since many cities require annual or biennial renewal with its own fee. This is also where a prep packet or checklist earns its cost. If you're trying to get organized ahead of a first inspection or license application, a structured City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet (a one-time $79 tool) can save you from missing an obvious item like a screen or a smoke detector that fails you on inspection day. It's not a substitute for reading your actual city code, but it gives you a starting checklist instead of a blank page.

what rights do tenants have without a lease?

A tenant without a written lease still has rights. Once someone moves in and pays rent, most states treat that as a month-to-month tenancy governed by the state's landlord-tenant statute, even with nothing signed. That means the tenant still gets the state's standard protections: the right to a habitable unit, the right to advance notice before entry, the right to proper notice before eviction, and the right to the return of a security deposit under the timelines and conditions state law sets. What a tenant without a lease usually loses is the specificity a written lease would have given them: agreed-upon rent amount changes, specific maintenance responsibilities, pet policies, and rules around subletting. Without those terms in writing, disputes tend to default to state law and local custom, which is often less favorable to both sides because it's vaguer. For landlords, month-to-month tenancies without a written lease are riskier because you can't point to an agreed term when a disagreement comes up. If you're renting without a lease right now, it's worth putting something in writing, even a simple one-page agreement, before the next rent cycle.

how much notice does a landlord have to give before entering or ending a tenancy?

This splits into two different questions that people often mix up: notice to enter for inspections or repairs, and notice to end a tenancy. For entry, most states require 24 to 48 hours' advance written or verbal notice before a landlord enters an occupied unit for a non-emergency reason, like a routine inspection or a repair. California, for example, presumes 24 hours is reasonable notice under Civil Code Section 1954, though the specific number and delivery method (posted notice, mail, in person) varies by state ^[6]. Emergencies (a burst pipe, a gas leak, a fire) are treated differently almost everywhere and don't require advance notice. For ending a tenancy, notice periods depend on the tenancy type and reason. Month-to-month tenancies typically require 30 days' notice to terminate without cause in many states, though some states require 60 or even 90 days depending on how long the tenant has lived there or local rent control rules. Notice for nonpayment of rent or lease violation is usually shorter, sometimes as little as 3 to 14 days depending on the state, before a landlord can file for eviction. None of these numbers are universal. You need to check your specific state's landlord-tenant act, and if the property is in a rent-controlled city, check the local ordinance too, since local rules are frequently stricter than the state floor.

why do landlords require renters insurance?

Landlords require renters insurance mainly to shift liability and property-loss risk off themselves and onto the tenant's policy. A standard landlord insurance policy covers the building structure and the landlord's own liability, but it typically doesn't cover a tenant's personal belongings if there's a fire, theft, or water damage, and it doesn't cover a tenant's liability if a guest gets hurt in the unit and sues the tenant directly. Renters insurance, which the Insurance Information Institute notes commonly costs around $15 to $30 a month depending on coverage amount and location ^[7], fills that gap. It protects the tenant's belongings and gives the tenant their own liability coverage, which reduces the odds that a dispute over damage or an injury turns into a claim against the landlord's own policy or a lawsuit naming the landlord. Many landlords require it as a lease condition specifically because it's cheap for the tenant relative to the protection it gives everyone involved. It's legal in most states to require renters insurance as a lease term, as long as it's applied consistently and doesn't violate fair housing rules by being enforced selectively.

what a landlord cannot do in ohio

Ohio's landlord-tenant law is set out in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321. A few specific things Ohio law prohibits: a landlord cannot shut off utilities, change locks, or remove a tenant's belongings to force them out without going through the formal eviction process in court, sometimes called a "self-help eviction" (this is prohibited in most states, more than Ohio, and Ohio's statute is explicit about the landlord's duty to use legal process) . Ohio landlords also cannot retaliate against a tenant for exercising a legal right, like reporting a code violation or joining a tenant organization; Ohio Revised Code 5321.02 specifically addresses retaliatory conduct, including retaliatory eviction, rent increases, or service reductions taken because a tenant complained to a government agency about a building, housing, or health code violation . Ohio law also requires landlords to maintain the premises in a fit and habitable condition under ORC 5321.04, which includes keeping common areas safe, maintaining electrical, plumbing, and heating systems, and complying with applicable building and housing codes . Ohio's statute doesn't mention window screens by name, so whether you're required to provide them in Ohio comes down to your specific city's housing code, not state law. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati each have their own housing and property maintenance codes that could include a screen requirement independent of the state statute.

how do i find out if my city requires window screens?

Start with your city's building or housing department, sometimes called the Department of Buildings, Code Enforcement, or Regulatory Services depending on the city. Search for "[your city] property maintenance code" or "[your city] rental housing code" and look for whether it's based on the IPMC and whether Section 304.14 or an equivalent screen provision was kept, modified, or removed. If your city has a rental licensing or registration program, the office running that program usually publishes an inspection checklist, which is often the fastest way to find out. These checklists typically list every item an inspector checks, and screens show up explicitly if they're required. Call the office directly if you can't find it online; a five-minute call beats guessing and failing an inspection over a $15 screen. If you manage units in more than one city, don't assume the rule is the same across all of them. One city might require screens and the next one over might not mention them at all. Keeping a simple per-city checklist, whether that's your own spreadsheet or a City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet, is the practical way to avoid mixing up requirements between properties.

Frequently asked questions

are landlords legally required to provide window screens?

Not under federal law, and rarely under state law by name. It's a local housing code question. Cities that adopted the International Property Maintenance Code's Section 304.14 typically require screens on operable windows during warm months (April 1 to December 1 in the model code) ^[2]. Check your specific city's property maintenance code or ask the rental licensing office directly.

do apartments have to have window screens in every state?

No. There's no nationwide requirement. It depends on whether your state or city adopted a maintenance code with a screen provision. States with general habitability statutes rarely name screens specifically; the requirement almost always comes from a city or county building code instead, so it varies block to block in some metro areas with inconsistent code adoption.

can a tenant withhold rent if there's no window screen?

Generally no, not for a screen alone, unless your state's habitability law or your city's code treats it as a serious habitability defect (rare) or your lease specifically promises screens. Rent withholding remedies are usually reserved for major issues like no heat, no water, or serious safety hazards, and most states require formal notice and a repair period first.

how to become a landlord if i've never rented out a property before?

Confirm whether your city requires rental registration or licensing before you lease the unit, review your state's landlord-tenant statute for security deposit and notice rules, prepare the unit for any required initial inspection, and set up a lease and a system for tracking renewal and inspection deadlines. Many mid-size and large cities require registration within a set window after purchase or lease start.

who is responsible for a rental property walk-through inspection in california?

The landlord (or their property manager) is responsible for conducting the initial move-out inspection under California Civil Code Section 1950.5, giving the tenant at least 48 hours' written notice and an itemized list of deficiencies so the tenant can fix issues before final deposit deductions ^[5]. Move-in walkthroughs aren't separately mandated by that statute but are standard practice.

what is landlording?

Landlording is the day-to-day work of owning and managing rental property: collecting rent, handling repairs, following state and local landlord-tenant law, managing lease terms, and keeping up with any rental registration, licensing, or inspection requirements your city imposes. For small landlords with 1 to 10 units, it usually means handling every one of those roles personally.

what rights do tenants have without a lease?

A tenant without a written lease still gets the protections in their state's landlord-tenant statute once they've moved in and paid rent, typically treated as a month-to-month tenancy: the right to a habitable unit, advance notice before entry, proper notice before eviction, and security deposit return under state timelines. What they lose is the specificity a written lease would add.

how much notice does a landlord have to give before entering the unit?

Most states require 24 to 48 hours' advance notice for non-emergency entry; California presumes 24 hours is reasonable under Civil Code Section 1954 ^[6]. Emergencies don't require advance notice in most states. The exact number, and whether it must be written, verbal, or posted, depends on your specific state statute.

why do landlords require renters insurance?

Renters insurance covers the tenant's belongings and gives the tenant their own liability coverage, which a landlord's own building policy usually doesn't provide. It reduces disputes over damaged property and lowers the odds a tenant's guest injury turns into a claim against the landlord. It commonly costs $15 to $30 a month according to the Insurance Information Institute ^[7].

what can a landlord look at during an inspection?

A landlord or inspector can generally review the physical condition and safety systems of the unit: smoke and CO detectors, locks, heating, plumbing, electrical, pest evidence, and window condition including screens where required by code. They generally cannot search personal belongings or use an inspection as a pretext to harass a tenant.

what a landlord cannot do in ohio

Ohio landlords cannot shut off utilities, change locks, or remove belongings to force a tenant out without going through court eviction, and cannot retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations under Ohio Revised Code 5321.02 ^[9]. Ohio law also requires landlords to keep units fit and habitable under ORC 5321.04 ^[10].

what happens if my rental fails inspection over a missing window screen?

In a city where screens are required, a missing screen usually gets written up as a minor code violation, similar to a loose handrail. You typically get a fix-it window before fines apply, and reinspection fees vary by city, often in the range of roughly $50 to $200 (confirm with your city rental licensing office for the exact figure).

does the international property maintenance code require window screens?

Section 304.14 of the IPMC requires screens on operable windows used for ventilation from April 1 to December 1 in the model code language, unless the space is air-conditioned ^[2]. Cities can modify or remove this section when adopting the code, so you need to confirm your specific city's adopted version rather than assume the model language applies.

Sources

1. International Code Council, International Property Maintenance Code Section 304.14: IPMC Section 304.14 requires screens on operable windows used for ventilation from April 1 to December 1 unless the space is air-conditioned
2. Municipal Code of Chicago, Chapter 13-196: Chicago's Municipal Code sets minimum housing standards including insect and pest control requirements for dwelling units
3. California Civil Code Section 1950.5: California landlords must conduct an initial move-out inspection with 48 hours' written notice and provide an itemized statement of deficiencies before deposit deductions
4. California Civil Code Section 1954: California law presumes 24 hours advance notice is reasonable for landlord entry into an occupied rental unit
5. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321: Ohio's landlord-tenant law requires landlords to use formal legal eviction process rather than self-help remedies like lockouts or utility shutoffs
6. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.02: Ohio law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations, including through eviction, rent increases, or service reductions
7. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04: Ohio landlords must maintain rental premises in a fit and habitable condition and comply with applicable building and housing codes