Are landlords required to provide a stove? state-by-state basics

Last updated 2026-07-26

are landlords required to provide a stove or refrigerator?

No federal statute requires a landlord to supply a stove, oven, or refrigerator. The federal Fair Housing Act and HUD's housing quality standards address discrimination and subsidized-housing conditions, not appliance minimums for private market rentals ^[1]. What actually controls this question is state landlord-tenant law, your local housing or building code, and your lease itself. Most states run on an "implied warranty of habitability" concept, first laid out clearly in cases like Javins v. First National Realty Corp. (D.C. Circuit, 1970), which held that a lease carries an implied promise the unit is fit to live in ^[2]. Habitability usually means working plumbing, heat, electricity, weatherproofing, and safe structure. It does not automatically mean a stove. Whether a stove counts depends on whether your state's statute or your city's housing code specifically lists cooking equipment as a required facility. Some cities do list it. Chicago's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and many municipal housing codes that borrow from the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) require that if a unit is intended for cooking, it has to have a functioning cooking appliance connection or unit supplied by the owner unless the tenant supplies their own by agreement ^[3]. The IPMC, adopted in some form by hundreds of cities, states in Section 605 area language that habitable spaces need a means of food preparation supplied by either party as agreed in writing. If your city adopted a version of IPMC without amendment, check your local housing code section for kitchen facility requirements, because the exact wording varies by city. Bottom line: check three things in this order. First, your state statute (search "[state] landlord tenant act habitability"). Second, your city or county housing/rental code. Third, your own lease language, because a lease that says "stove included" creates a contractual duty even if no statute would have required it.

what does the lease say, and why does that matter more than you'd think?

If your lease lists a stove as included equipment, you're on the hook for keeping it in working order regardless of what state law says, because you created a contract term ^[4]. This is the single most common source of stove disputes, not statute violations. Landlords sometimes rent a unit "as is" with no stove, expecting the tenant to bring a portable range or their own unit. That's legal in most states as long as it's disclosed before signing and the unit still meets whatever the local code requires for cooking facilities (gas or electric hookup, ventilation, etc.). Problems start when a listing photo shows a stove, the walkthrough shows a stove, but the lease is silent, and then the landlord removes it. Courts generally look at the totality of representations, more than the written lease, when tenants argue breach of habitability or breach of contract. If you're drafting a new lease, decide explicitly: is a working stove/oven included as landlord-supplied equipment, or is the tenant responsible for bringing and maintaining their own? Put that decision in writing. Silence is what generates disputes and, in mandatory-inspection cities, code violations you didn't see coming.

which states or cities actually require a stove by law?

States following the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act model	No explicit stove requirement; habitability covers structural/utility items only [5]
Cities using International Property Maintenance Code (adopted version)	Often requires a functioning cooking facility be provided by owner or tenant per written agreement [3]
Chicago (RLTO jurisdiction)	Kitchen facilities addressed under the municipal housing code; check the specific chapter for your building type [6]
California	Health and Safety Code habitability standards focus on plumbing, heat, weatherproofing, electrical; stoves are not separately mandated by state statute, though local building codes for kitchens may require a connection point [7]	The honest answer for most landlords: your state's residential landlord-tenant act almost certainly does not name "stove" as a required item. Your city's building or housing code, if it adopted IPMC language or has its own rental housing chapter, might. Always confirm with your city rental licensing office before you assume either way, because two cities twenty miles apart can differ.

Coverage is inconsistent enough that you have to check your own jurisdiction. Here's a general pattern based on public sources, not a complete 50-state list, because no single federal database tracks this appliance-by-appliance. | Jurisdiction type | Typical rule on stoves |

who is responsible for the rental property walkthrough inspection in california?

In California, the landlord is generally responsible for arranging habitability-related repairs, but the walkthrough inspection itself splits into a few different types depending on why it's happening. For move-in/move-out condition documentation, California Civil Code Section 1950.5 requires landlords to offer tenants an initial inspection before the tenant moves out, if the landlord intends to withhold any part of the security deposit for repairs, and to give the tenant an itemized statement of deductions ^[8]. The landlord (or their agent) conducts this walkthrough, but the tenant has the right to be present. For city rental inspection programs (proactive rental inspection ordinances that some California cities run, like periodic habitability inspections tied to a rental registration or license), the inspection is typically conducted by a city code enforcement officer or building inspector, not the landlord. The landlord is responsible for scheduling access and fixing anything cited, but doesn't perform the inspection themselves. Program names, fees, and inspection cycles vary by city, so confirm with your specific city's rental housing or code enforcement office for your inspection calendar and fee schedule. A private habitability inspection, such as one a tenant requests informally or one you order before listing a unit, is the landlord's call to arrange and typically the landlord's cost.

how much notice does a landlord have to give before an inspection?

Most states require at least 24 hours' written or verbal notice before a landlord enters a rental unit for a non-emergency inspection or repair, though the exact number and delivery method vary. California Civil Code Section 1954 sets 24 hours as "reasonable notice" in most circumstances, with entry limited to normal business hours absent tenant agreement otherwise ^[9]. Some states require more. Notice periods you'll commonly see: 24 hours (California, and the general default many states use as a baseline), 48 hours (some jurisdictions for specific inspection types), and "reasonable notice" without a fixed number in states that leave it to case law. Emergency entry (fire, flooding, gas leak) doesn't require advance notice in virtually any state. For city-run rental inspection programs, notice requirements are usually spelled out in the local ordinance and can differ from the general entry-notice statute, sometimes requiring written notice by mail 10 to 30 days ahead of a scheduled compliance inspection. Confirm your specific notice window with your city rental licensing office, since these program-specific rules override the general habitability notice rule for that particular inspection event.

what can a landlord look at during an inspection?

A landlord (or city inspector) can generally look at anything connected to habitability, safety, and lease compliance: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets and panels, HVAC function, window and door locks, signs of pest infestation, mold or moisture damage, and whether the unit matches what was represented at move-in. What a landlord typically cannot do during a routine inspection: search through personal belongings, drawers, or closets beyond what's needed to check a fixture; bring people unrelated to the inspection purpose; or use the inspection as a pretext to harass a tenant or retaliate for a complaint. Many states have anti-retaliation statutes that specifically bar landlords from scheduling inspections in response to a tenant's code complaint or organizing activity. For city rental licensing inspections, the inspector is usually checking a specific checklist tied to the local housing code: working smoke detectors, secure railings, functioning heat source, no unpermitted electrical work, proper egress from bedrooms, and (in jurisdictions that require it) a working stove or cooking facility connection. If you want to walk in prepared instead of guessing what the inspector flags, our $79 City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet builds a jurisdiction-specific pre-inspection checklist so you're not caught off guard by a local quirk like a required stove connection or smoke detector placement rule.

what a landlord cannot do in ohio

Ohio's landlord-tenant law (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321) prohibits several specific things. A landlord cannot shut off utilities, change locks, or remove a tenant's belongings to force them out; this is illegal "self-help eviction" and Ohio requires landlords to go through the court eviction process instead . A landlord also cannot retaliate against a tenant for making a good-faith habitability complaint to a government agency or for joining a tenant organization, under ORC 5321.02. Ohio landlords are required under ORC 5321.04 to keep the premises fit and habitable, comply with building and housing codes, keep common areas safe, and maintain electrical, plumbing, heating, and appliances supplied by the landlord in good working order . Note that last part: if the landlord supplied a stove, Ohio law requires keeping it working. If no stove was supplied and the lease didn't promise one, ORC 5321.04 doesn't create a new obligation to add one. Ohio also caps and regulates security deposit handling, requiring landlords to return deposits or provide an itemized list of deductions within 30 days of the tenancy ending under ORC 5321.16.

what is landlording, and what is a landlord?

A landlord is the owner (or an authorized agent of the owner) of real property who leases part or all of that property to another person, called a tenant, in exchange for rent. "Landlording" is the informal industry term for the ongoing work of managing that relationship: collecting rent, maintaining the property, handling repairs, complying with local licensing and inspection rules, and managing turnover between tenants. Landlording is not passive. Even a single-unit landlord in a city with a mandatory rental license has recurring duties: renewing the license annually or on whatever cycle the city sets, keeping the unit in compliance with the local housing code, responding to repair requests within a legally reasonable time, and handling security deposits according to state statute. Skipping any of these is how a $79 problem (a missed license renewal) turns into a $500 to $1,000+ fine problem in cities that enforce rental registration ordinances.

how do you become a landlord, step by step?

Becoming a landlord starts before you buy or convert a property, not after. Here's the realistic sequence. First, confirm zoning allows rental use for the property type you have in mind (single-family, duplex, accessory dwelling unit). Second, check whether your city requires a rental license, registration, or certificate of occupancy before you can legally lease the unit; many mandatory-licensing cities require this before the first tenant moves in, not after. Third, get the property inspection-ready: working smoke and CO detectors, code-compliant electrical and plumbing, and any locally required items (fire extinguishers, egress windows, in some cities a functioning stove connection). Fourth, decide your lease terms and screening criteria, and make sure your screening complies with the Fair Housing Act's protected classes plus any additional state or local protected categories (source of income, in many jurisdictions) ^[1]. Fifth, get landlord insurance (not the same as a standard homeowners policy) and understand your state's security deposit handling rules before you collect the first deposit. Sixth, register for whatever rental license or permit your city requires, and calendar the renewal date and any recurring inspection cycle. This is where a lot of new landlords stumble, because the license isn't usually a one-time filing; most mandatory-licensing cities require annual or biennial renewal plus periodic inspection. If you're setting up in a city with a formal licensing program, our $79 City Rental License & Inspection Prep Packet walks through the paperwork and inspection checklist for your specific city so the first renewal cycle isn't a guessing game.

why do landlords require renters insurance?

Landlords require renters insurance mainly to shift liability risk for the tenant's own belongings and for accidents the tenant causes, since a standard landlord/property insurance policy generally does not cover a tenant's personal property or a tenant's liability for damage they cause to someone else's unit . If a tenant's stove fire (ironically) damages a neighboring unit, the landlord's policy may cover the building, but the tenant's liability for causing it is a separate exposure that renters insurance addresses. There's also a practical reason: renters insurance policies typically include liability coverage that protects the landlord indirectly, because if a tenant's guest is injured in the unit, the tenant's policy responds first instead of the landlord's policy absorbing a claim. Many landlords require proof of a policy with a minimum liability limit (commonly $100,000, sometimes $300,000) as a lease condition. This isn't federally mandated, but it's an increasingly standard lease clause, and some states explicitly allow landlords to require it or to purchase a master policy on the tenant's behalf and bill it back, depending on state landlord-tenant statute language.

what rights do tenants have without a lease?

A tenant without a written lease, sometimes called a month-to-month or oral tenancy, still has real legal protections. The habitability warranty applies regardless of whether there's a written lease, meaning the unit still has to meet basic health and safety code minimums under state law. The tenant is also still entitled to proper notice before eviction; most states require 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, though some require more depending on how long the tenant has lived there or local rent control rules. An oral or no-lease tenant still gets protection from illegal lockouts and utility shutoffs in virtually every state, still gets fair housing protection against discrimination, and still has whatever security deposit rights the state statute grants (deposit limits, timelines for return, itemization requirements). What a no-lease tenant lacks is the specific promises a written lease would otherwise create, like whether a stove or other appliance is included. Without that written term, whether an appliance was provided often comes down to what was actually delivered at move-in and any text messages, emails, or listing language that document what was promised.

how do fines and violations tie back to appliance and habitability rules?

In cities with mandatory rental licensing, missing habitability items (including a required cooking facility, if your local code lists one) typically show up as code violations during the licensing inspection, not as a separate "no stove" citation. The fine structure depends entirely on the city ordinance. Some cities issue a notice of violation with a cure period (commonly 10 to 30 days) before any fine applies; others attach a per-day or per-violation fine schedule immediately for repeat offenders. Because these fee and fine schedules genuinely differ by city and change year to year, the honest move is to pull your specific city's current fee and fine schedule from its rental licensing or code enforcement office before your inspection date, rather than relying on a number from a blog post that may be two years stale. For a clearer sense of how tenant-facing rights and landlord obligations interact more broadly, see tenant rights and renters rights.

Frequently asked questions

Are landlords required to provide a stove by federal law?

No. There's no federal statute requiring landlords to supply a stove, refrigerator, or any specific appliance. Federal law (Fair Housing Act, HUD housing quality standards) addresses discrimination and subsidized-housing conditions, not private-market appliance minimums. Whether a stove is required depends entirely on your state's habitability law and your local housing code.

Does a lease that says 'stove included' create a legal obligation?

Yes. If your lease lists a stove as included equipment, you're contractually required to keep it in working repair, regardless of whether state law would have required it otherwise. This is a common source of disputes: verbal promises or listing photos showing a stove can also factor in if the written lease is silent.

Who is responsible for a rental property walkthrough inspection in California?

For move-out deposit inspections, the landlord conducts the walkthrough per California Civil Code Section 1950.5, and the tenant has a right to be present. For city rental inspection programs, a city code enforcement officer or building inspector conducts the inspection; the landlord is responsible for scheduling access, not performing the inspection.

What is landlording?

Landlording is the ongoing work of owning and managing a rental property: collecting rent, maintaining habitability, handling repairs, complying with local licensing and inspection requirements, and managing tenant turnover. It's an active, recurring responsibility, not a one-time transaction.

What is a landlord?

A landlord is the owner, or an authorized agent of the owner, of real property who leases some or all of it to a tenant in exchange for rent, under the terms of a lease or rental agreement.

What rights do tenants have without a lease?

Tenants without a written lease still have habitability protections, protection from illegal lockouts, fair housing protection, and whatever security deposit and notice rights their state statute grants. Most states require 30 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, though this varies by state and local rent control rules.

How do you become a landlord?

Confirm zoning allows rental use, check if your city requires a rental license or registration before leasing, prepare the unit to meet local housing code, screen tenants in compliance with fair housing law, get landlord insurance, and register with your city's rental licensing program, tracking the renewal and inspection cycle.

Why do landlords require renters insurance?

Renters insurance covers the tenant's personal belongings and shifts liability for damage or injuries the tenant causes, which a standard landlord property policy usually doesn't cover. Many landlords require a minimum liability limit, commonly $100,000, as a lease condition.

How much notice does a landlord have to give before an inspection?

Most states require at least 24 hours' notice for non-emergency entry; California Civil Code Section 1954 sets 24 hours as presumptively reasonable. Some cities require longer notice (10 to 30 days) for scheduled rental licensing inspections. Emergency entry needs no advance notice.

What can a landlord look at during an inspection?

A landlord or inspector can check habitability and safety items: smoke/CO detectors, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, locks, pest and mold issues, and code compliance. They generally cannot search personal belongings unrelated to a fixture check or use the inspection to harass or retaliate against a tenant.

What can a landlord not do in Ohio?

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5321, a landlord cannot shut off utilities, change locks, or remove belongings to force a tenant out (illegal self-help eviction), and cannot retaliate against a tenant for a good-faith habitability complaint. Landlords must keep landlord-supplied appliances and systems in working order.

If my city's code doesn't mention a stove, can I rent the unit without one?

Often yes, as long as the lease clearly discloses that no stove is provided and the tenant agrees to supply their own, and your city's housing code doesn't separately require a cooking facility. Confirm with your city rental licensing office, since some cities' adopted building codes do require a cooking facility connection.

Can a landlord remove a stove after a tenant moves in?

Generally no, if the lease listed the stove as included equipment or if local code requires a cooking facility be provided. Removing an appliance mid-tenancy without replacing it can be treated as a habitability violation or breach of lease, depending on state law.

Sources

1. HUD, Fair Housing Act overview: Federal Fair Housing Act addresses discrimination, not appliance minimums for private rentals
2. Javins v. First National Realty Corp., 428 F.2d 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1970): Foundational case establishing the implied warranty of habitability in residential leases
3. International Code Council, International Property Maintenance Code: Model code language used by many cities addressing kitchen and cooking facility requirements
4. Uniform Law Commission, Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act: Model state landlord-tenant act structure that many states' habitability statutes are based on
5. California Civil Code Section 1950.5: California requires landlords to offer an initial move-out inspection and provide itemized deduction statements
6. California Civil Code Section 1954: California sets 24 hours as presumptively reasonable notice before landlord entry
7. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.02: Ohio law prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants for good-faith habitability complaints
8. Ohio Revised Code Section 5321.04: Ohio landlords must maintain landlord-supplied appliances and utility systems in good working order
9. Insurance Information Institute, Renters Insurance overview: Standard landlord property policies generally do not cover a tenant's personal belongings or liability