Providing AC can create a duty to maintain it
Usually, yes. If your lease included air conditioning, or the unit was rented to you with AC, the landlord generally has to keep it in working order — even though state law does not require AC in the first place.
When a landlord provides an amenity like air conditioning as part of the rental, they typically take on the duty to maintain it. Advertising the unit as having AC, listing it in the lease, or providing a working system at move-in can all create that responsibility.
So a broken AC the landlord agreed to provide is a very different situation from a unit that never had AC at all. Check your lease and any move-in condition records, and keep the listing if it mentioned air conditioning. If your landlord provided AC and now refuses to repair it, a free, confidential review can help you understand your options.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.