Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO)
What is Chula Vista's Building Energy Saving Ordinance?
Chula Vista benchmarking is required by the Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO), Municipal Code Chapter 15.26. It requires owners of commercial, multifamily and industrial buildings of 20,000 square feet or more to benchmark their energy use every year, share results with tenants and buyers, and improve buildings that perform poorly.
Benchmarking reports are due every May 20. The City updated BESO in 2026: benchmarking data must be third-party verified by May 20, 2027, and conservation requirements are due by June 20, 2028.
What buildings must comply in Chula Vista?
- Commercial buildings of 20,000 sq ft or more
- Multifamily buildings of 20,000 sq ft or more
- Industrial buildings of 20,000 sq ft or more
Buildings owned by the County, State, federal government, MTS and the Chula Vista and Sweetwater school districts are exempt. Owners can request a one-year exemption if the building lacked a certificate of occupancy or was vacant for renovation for half the year, is being demolished, had no energy service for half the year, would reveal trade secrets, or is in financial distress.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
- Notice first: the City sends a notice of failure to comply with 60 days to correct.
- 20,000–49,999 sq ft: fines of up to $750.
- 50,000–99,999 sq ft: fines of up to $1,500.
- 100,000+ sq ft: fines of up to $2,250.
- Public disclosure: the City can publish non-compliance, and building data appears on its public benchmarking map.
What is the compliance process?
Chula Vista owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A typical filing looks like this:
- First, confirm your building on the City’s covered list and set up your property in Portfolio Manager.
- Next, request whole-building data from SDG&E through its benchmarking portal.
- Then enter 12 full months of energy data for the previous calendar year and run the Data Quality Checker.
- For the 2027 cycle, have a qualified third party verify your benchmarking data.
- Finally, submit your report to the City by May 20 and share it with tenants and prospective buyers.
Keep benchmarking, audit and retro-commissioning records for five years. They transfer to the new owner if you sell.
What is the deadline for Chula Vista benchmarking?
Chula Vista benchmarking reports are due May 20 every year and cover the previous calendar year.
Next deadlineMay 20, 2027 for 2026 data, with third-party verification
The City publishes building data by September 1. Owners must share their report with tenants by August 20. Conservation pathway reports are due June 20, 2028.
Chula Vista conservation requirements
By June 20, 2028, every covered building must choose one path: qualify as a High Performing Building (ENERGY STAR score of 80+, ENERGY STAR certification or LEED certification), meet its Performance Target, or complete Conservation Activities. Performance Targets depend on your starting point:
| Tier | Baseline ENERGY STAR score | Baseline EUI (no score) | Required improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0–45 | 80+ | 30% |
| Tier 2 | 46–65 | 51–79 | 20% |
| Tier 3 | 66–79 | 19–50 | 10% |
| Tier 4 | 80+ | 0–18 | None |
Conservation Activities: non-residential buildings complete ASHRAE retro-commissioning, or an ASHRAE Level 2 energy audit for smaller or simpler buildings. Multifamily buildings built before 2006 can do retro-commissioning or install a set number of prescriptive upgrades in each unit.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- Solar & on-site generation
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
Water reporting is not required under BESO.
What is the purpose of Chula Vista's ordinance?
Chula Vista’s Climate Action Plan targets large buildings because they use a big share of the city’s energy. BESO works in two main ways:
Cut energy waste. Benchmarking, audits and retro-commissioning find and fix problems in building systems.
Make performance transparent. The public benchmarking map and tenant disclosure help people compare buildings. Top performers can earn ENERGY STAR certification.
See our guides for nearby San Diego and statewide California AB 802, or our full energy benchmarking compliance guide.
This program includes an energy audit, assessment or tune-up requirement. Compare it with other cities in our energy audit compliance guide.
Need a verifier? Our Professional Engineers and Certified Energy Managers provide third-party verification services.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Chula Vista benchmarking deadline?
May 20 every year. The next deadline is May 20, 2027 for 2026 data, and that report must be third-party verified.
What changed in 2026?
The City updated BESO to require third-party verification by May 20, 2027, revised the audit scope and moved conservation deadlines to June 20, 2028.
How can my building skip the conservation requirement?
Qualify as a High Performing Building with an ENERGY STAR score of 80 or higher, ENERGY STAR certification, or LEED certification for 3 of the last 5 years.
How much are the fines?
Up to $750, $1,500 or $2,250 depending on building size, after a 60-day notice to correct.
Can Energy Fave handle my Chula Vista compliance?
Yes. Energy Fave can benchmark your building, arrange third-party verification, and plan your conservation pathway.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Chula Vista BESO at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Buildings 20,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- May 20, 2027 (verified)
- Late penalty
- Up to $2,250 by size
- Conservation
- Due June 20, 2028
- Reporting tool
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager