Lakewood Building Energy Benchmarking Program
What is Lakewood's Building Energy Benchmarking Program?
Lakewood benchmarking is required by the City’s Building Energy Benchmarking Program, adopted by City Council in February 2026 (Ordinance O-2026-8, Municipal Code Chapter 14.30). It requires owners of commercial, multifamily and public buildings of 10,000 square feet or more to benchmark their energy use every year.
The first deadline is December 31, 2026 for 2025 data. After that, reports are due every June 1. The program supports Lakewood’s goal of net zero communitywide emissions by 2050.
What buildings must comply in Lakewood?
- Commercial buildings of 10,000 sq ft or more
- Multifamily buildings of 10,000 sq ft or more
- Public buildings of 10,000 sq ft or more
Single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes are not covered. Exemptions and extensions are available, for example for buildings being demolished or without a certificate of occupancy for all 12 months. Requests are due at least 60 days before the reporting deadline.
Buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more that already report to the State of Colorado do not file separately. They follow the state schedule and add the City as a reporting entity.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
- Notice and cure period: owners get 90 days to fix violations for 2025 data, and 30 days for 2026 data and later.
- Civil penalty: up to $2,000 per building for each year it stays out of compliance.
- Property lien: if a penalty is unpaid after 180 days, the City may place a lien on the property.
- State overlap: the City may waive its penalty if the State already penalized the same violation.
What is the compliance process?
Lakewood owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and the City’s reporting portal:
- First, find your building on the City’s Building Map and note your Lakewood Building ID.
- Next, create an account in the City’s reporting portal and claim your building.
- Request whole-building electricity and natural gas data from Xcel Energy.
- Then enter 12 full months of data for the reporting year and run the Data Quality Checker.
- Finally, submit your report with your site EUI, ENERGY STAR score (if eligible) and greenhouse gas emissions by the deadline.
Keep monthly energy records for at least 24 months.
What is the deadline for Lakewood benchmarking?
The first Lakewood report is due December 31, 2026 and covers calendar-year 2025. Starting in 2027, reports are due June 1 each year for the previous year.
Next deadlineDecember 31, 2026 for calendar-year 2025 data
The following deadline is June 1, 2027 for 2026 data, so owners will file twice within about six months.
Lakewood vs. Colorado state reporting
Lakewood’s program fills the gap below the state’s 50,000 sq ft threshold. Here is who reports where:
| Building | Report to | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000–49,999 sq ft | City of Lakewood | Dec 31, 2026, then June 1 |
| 50,000+ sq ft | State of Colorado, adding Lakewood as a reporting entity | State schedule (June 1) |
Larger buildings: the State also sets building performance targets for buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more. See our Colorado Building Performance Standard guide.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- Propane
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
Water reporting is not required under the Lakewood program.
What is the purpose of Lakewood's program?
Buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Lakewood. The program supports the City’s net zero goal in two main ways:
Help owners save. Benchmarking shows how a building compares with similar buildings and where energy is wasted.
Build better data. Citywide data helps target incentives and track progress. Efficient buildings can also earn ENERGY STAR certification.
See our guides for Energize Denver and Fort Collins, or our full energy benchmarking compliance guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first Lakewood benchmarking deadline?
December 31, 2026 for 2025 data. After that, reports are due June 1 every year.
Is my 12,000 sq ft building covered?
Yes, if it is a commercial, multifamily or public building. The threshold is 10,000 sq ft.
I already report to the State. Do I report again?
No. Buildings that report to the State of Colorado follow the state schedule and add the City of Lakewood as a reporting entity.
What are the penalties?
Up to $2,000 per building per year after a cure period, and unpaid penalties can become a lien on the property.
Can Energy Fave file my Lakewood report?
Yes. Energy Fave can claim your building, request Xcel Energy data and submit your report before December 31, 2026.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Lakewood at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Buildings 10,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- Dec 31, 2026
- Then
- June 1 every year
- Late penalty
- Up to $2,000 per building
- Reporting tool
- Portfolio Manager + City portal