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COOL ZONES

Cool Zones are free, air-conditioned places to stay cool when it's very hot. 

DOWNLOADABLE SITE LIST: Download a printable list of the active sites and their normal hours here:  Download the Cool Zone Site List PDF

INTERACTIVE SITE LIST:  Filter by site, city, zip code, and/or pet policy. See below or view a full-page version of the interactive site list by clicking here.

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP

PETS: While some Cool Zones may only accept service animals, there may be other cooling centers available for pets.

Extended Cool Zone Hours
  • Check back to see if any Cool Zones have extended hours.

Active/Upcoming Heat Events

  • Heat Advisory
    • San Diego County Coasts
      • 10am Thursday, 10/15 through 8pm Saturday, 10/17.
      • Expected temperatures in the 90s.

Visit the National Weather Service Website for additional information.

Image description: a map of San Diego County divided into four distinct climate zones. From west to east: coastal (dark blue), valleys (green), mountains (yellow), desert (tan). The climate zones extend the full north-south length of the county, paralleling the angle of the coastline, and the map is laid over a satellite image basemap of Southern California, trimmed to focus on San Diego County.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is responsible for issuing weather alerts, including heat alerts. In San Diego County, NWS issues alerts separately for the four climate zones in the county (coastal, valleys, mountains, and desert) based on different thresholds for what is considered abnormally high heat for each zone. Heat alerts consist of heat advisories and heat warnings, corresponding respectively to moderate and high risk for heat-related illness among vulnerable groups. Different levels of alerts can be issued separately or simultaneously within the county, e.g. a heat advisory on the coast and a heat warning in the valleys and deserts. Any single alert or combination of simultaneous alerts triggers the activation of the County of San Diego’s Heat Plan.

Hydrate with water, find shade, wear sunscreen, and take breaks when outside. If possible, stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as you can. Keep animals in cool places and hydrated with water. Never leave your animals in unattended parked cars.

To learn more about how to stay safe during extreme heat, visit:  https://heatreadyca.com/​

Know Who is at High Risk: Infants, young children, older adults, and people with chronic medical conditions are some of the groups with high risk for heat illness during heat events.
Know Who is at High Risk: Infants, young children, older adults, and people with chronic medical conditions are some of the groups with high risk for heat illness during heat events.
Tips to Beat the Heat: Drink plenty of water, check on friends and neighbors at high risk for heat-related illness, find air-conditioned places to cool off, and never leave kids or pets in a closed, parked vehicle.
Tips to Beat the Heat: Drink plenty of water, check on friends and neighbors at high risk for heat-related illness, find air-conditioned places to cool off, and never leave kids or pets in a closed, parked vehicle.
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Become a Cool Zone Site

How to Become a Site: 
 Complete the  Standards of Participation form . 

Requirements to Become a Site:
Are you a public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, organization interested in participating as a Cool Zone site? 

A Cool Zone site must agree to the following Standards of Participation:

  1. Keep working air conditioning.  
  2. Post the Polar Bear Cool Zone logo (above) at the front entrance. Logo will be provided by SDG&E.
  3. Provide access to the public during hours of operation. 
  4. Define seating capacity and provide public seating.
  5. Allow visitors to arrive unannounced. 
  6. Provide access to the restrooms.
  7. Ensure visitors are not required to purchase goods or services.
  8. Allow service animals of any visitor.
  9. Inform PHPR within 24 business hours of any changes to the program, operation days, and/or hours. 
  10. Agree to have your organization’s name, address, public phone number and hours of operation listed on PHPR Cool Zone and partner websites. 

Perks of Becoming a Cool Zone Site:

  • Help lower utility usage in the community.
  • Stay informed about local heat event warnings.
  • Be connected to resources for your community.
  • Contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community.
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Email us at coolzones@sdcounty.ca.gov if you need more information about the Cool Zone program. You can also call for more information at 1-800-339-4661 from 8:00am-5:00pm, Mon-Fri.

For information about a specific Cool Zone site, please contact that site directly.

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