# Boston — Building Energy Benchmarking and Performance Standard Requirements by Jurisdiction

For Boston, jurisdiction level is city; ordinance citation is Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO); sq ft threshold is 20,000; covered building types is non-residential buildings 20,000 sq ft or larger; residential buildings with 15 or more units; reporting deadline is May 15, recorded from its source on 2026-08-15.

- **jurisdiction:** Boston _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **jurisdiction level:** city _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **ordinance citation:** Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)
- **sq ft threshold:** 20,000 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **covered building types:** non-residential buildings 20,000 sq ft or larger; residential buildings with 15 or more units
- **reporting deadline:** May 15 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **reporting platform:** ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **performance standard:** Annual emissions standards decreasing over time, with all buildings expected to reach net-zero emissions by 2050
- **penalty noncompliance:** Not specified on program page

## What the source says

> 20,000 square feet or 15 units ↗ <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t-XKuedzvlOMf2d-vmL3ztrklDquXv-NdD1RkA-mxZI/edit?gid=1462200890#gid=1462200890> BERDO COVERED BUILDINGS LIST * A mixed-use building or tax parcel is considered residential if 50% or more of its Gross Floor Area, excluding parking, has a residential use WHAT ARE MY OBLIGATIONS? <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bTCjWuJzL-kfmM_nA_sIo9fm5BU5vwihdtbaq8OB3iU/edit?usp=sharing> REPORTING Report your building's total energy and water use from the previous calendar year to the City of Boston by May 15 of each year. <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bTCjWuJzL-kfmM_nA_sIo9fm5BU5vwihdtbaq8OB3iU/edit#heading=h.tnbc48cs8v3v> THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION Verify reported data through a qualified third-party on the first year of reporting and every "Verification Year" thereafter. <https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/building-emissions-reduction-and-disclosure#emissions-compliance> EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS Reduce annual emissions below the emissions standard (emissions limit) corresponding to your building use type. HOW DO I REPORT TO BERDO? There are main parts to reporting: Report key building characteristics and your annual energy and water use through <https://portfoliomanager.energystar.gov/pm/login.html> ENERGY Star Portfolio Manager

## Source

- https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/building-energy-reporting-and-disclosure-ordinance

Last verified: 2026-08-15. Review by: 2027-02-11.
Part of [Building Energy Benchmarking and Performance Standard Requirements by Jurisdiction](https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/).