{ "name": "Building Energy Benchmarking and Performance Standard Requirements by Jurisdiction", "description": "Which US cities and states require commercial buildings to report annual energy consumption, the square footage threshold above which reporting is mandatory, the annual reporting deadline, whether emissions reduction targets or performance standards apply, penalty amounts for noncompliance, and the governing ordinance citation. Over 50 jurisdictions have adopted requirements as of 2026, with new ones every year.", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/", "licence": "unknown", "last_verified": "2026-08-15", "stale_after": "2027-02-11", "sources": [ "https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/building-energy-reporting-and-disclosure-ordinance", "https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-benchmarking-program", "https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/bpc", "https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/ClimateChange/Clean-Buildings/Pages/BEPS.aspx", "https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/benchmarking.page" ], "records": [ { "jurisdiction": "Boston", "jurisdiction_level": "city", "ordinance_citation": "Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)", "sq_ft_threshold": "20,000", "covered_building_types": "non-residential buildings 20,000 sq ft or larger; residential buildings with 15 or more units", "reporting_deadline": "May 15", "reporting_platform": "ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "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", "id": "boston", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/boston/", "source": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/environment/building-energy-reporting-and-disclosure-ordinance", "source_quote": "20,000 square feet or 15 units \u2197 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? 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. THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION Verify reported data through a qualified third-party on the first year of reporting and every \"Verification Year\" thereafter. 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 ENERGY Star Portfolio Manager", "verified_fields": [ "jurisdiction", "jurisdiction_level", "reporting_deadline", "reporting_platform", "sq_ft_threshold" ] }, { "jurisdiction": "California", "jurisdiction_level": "state", "ordinance_citation": "Assembly Bill 802", "sq_ft_threshold": "50,000", "covered_building_types": "commercial and multifamily residential", "reporting_deadline": "June 1", "reporting_platform": "ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "performance_standard": "No \u2014 benchmarking and disclosure only", "penalty_noncompliance": "Not specified on program page", "id": "california", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/california/", "source": "https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-benchmarking-program", "source_quote": " Final Regulations Assembly Bill 802 Docket Log for this Proceeding (15-OIR-05) Docket Log for 2025 Amendments (25-OIR-01) How to Comply Create an account in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "verified_fields": [ "jurisdiction", "ordinance_citation", "reporting_platform" ] }, { "jurisdiction": "Colorado", "jurisdiction_level": "state", "ordinance_citation": "HB21-1286: Energy Performance For Buildings", "sq_ft_threshold": "50,000", "covered_building_types": "most commercial buildings", "reporting_deadline": "November 1", "reporting_platform": "ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "performance_standard": "7% reduction by 2026 and 20% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels", "penalty_noncompliance": "Late reports and fees are subject to penalties", "id": "colorado", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/colorado/", "source": "https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/bpc", "source_quote": "Building Performance Colorado Benchmarking and building performance standards to reduce emissions statewide. The state\u2019s Building Performance Colorado (BPC) program, which includes benchmarking requirements and Building Performance Standards (BPS), will help meet State goals to reduce emissions from the commercial buildings sector by 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. These policies apply to most commercial buildings 50,000 square feet and larger (\u201ccovered buildings\u201d). Benchmarking requirements increase transparency for how buildings use energy and help building owners: Reduce emissions from the building sector Reduce energy and operating costs Prioritize investments in energy upgrades and building improvements Sign up for updates on the BPC Program Key Dates and Deadlines for Covered Buildings July 1, annually: Benchmarking reporting period opens. November 1, annually: Benchmarking report and fee payment due. Late reports and fees are subject to penalties.", "verified_fields": [ "covered_building_types", "jurisdiction", "jurisdiction_level", "penalty_noncompliance", "performance_standard", "reporting_deadline", "sq_ft_threshold" ] }, { "jurisdiction": "Maryland", "jurisdiction_level": "state", "ordinance_citation": "Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022", "sq_ft_threshold": "35,000", "covered_building_types": "commercial and multifamily", "reporting_deadline": "June 1", "reporting_platform": "ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "performance_standard": "Net-zero emissions by 2045; building performance standards in the 2030s", "penalty_noncompliance": "Not specified on program page", "id": "maryland", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/maryland/", "source": "https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/ClimateChange/Clean-Buildings/Pages/BEPS.aspx", "source_quote": " BEPS Portal . ( Yo u\u2019ll need to create an account.) If your building is determined exempt from the program, you won\u2019t need to submit a benchmarking report for that building. Read the instructions for submitting exemption requests (PDF) . Agricultural | Hospital | K-12 school | Demolished | Manufacturing | Individually-designated historic | Federally-owned | Smaller than 35,000 square feet |", "verified_fields": [ "jurisdiction", "jurisdiction_level", "sq_ft_threshold" ] }, { "jurisdiction": "New York City", "jurisdiction_level": "city", "ordinance_citation": "NYC Local Law 84 of 2009, as amended by Local Law 133 of 2016", "sq_ft_threshold": "Per Covered Buildings List (see NYC Administrative Code \u00a728-309.2)", "covered_building_types": "buildings on the Covered Buildings List, excluding garden-style apartments (not more than three stories, individually-owned HVAC)", "reporting_deadline": "May 1", "reporting_platform": "ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager", "performance_standard": "Energy efficiency grading required under Local Law 33 of 2018 and Local Law 95 of 2019", "penalty_noncompliance": "$500 per violation, up to $2,000 per year; $1,250 for failure to display energy efficiency rating label", "id": "new-york-city", "url": "https://referencesource.org/building-energy-benchmarking-requirements/new-york-city/", "source": "https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/benchmarking.page", "source_quote": "requires owners of buildings that meet the criteria outlined in the law to annually measure their energy and water consumption through a process called benchmarking. The law standardizes this process by requiring building owners to utilize the United States Environmental Protection Agency" } ] }