Energy Benchmarking Compliance by City & State
What is energy benchmarking compliance?
Energy benchmarking compliance means meeting a city or state law that requires owners of large buildings to measure their energy use every year and report it, usually through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. More than 50 US cities and states now have these laws, and many add third-party verification, energy audits or building performance standards on top of annual reporting.
Use the list below to find the rules for your building, or let our energy benchmarking services team handle compliance for you. For audit and tune-up rules, see our energy audit compliance guide.
Which cities and states require energy benchmarking?
- Ann Arbor – Energy and Water Benchmarking and Disclosure Ordinance
- Atlanta – Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance
- Austin – Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance
- Berkeley – Building Emissions Saving Ordinance
- Boston – Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)
- Boulder – Building Performance Ordinance
- California – Building Energy Benchmarking (Assembly Bill 802)
- Cambridge – Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO)
- Chicago – Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
- Chula Vista – Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO)
- Colorado – Building Performance Standard (BPS)
- Columbus – Energy and Water Benchmarking and Transparency Policy
- Denver – Energize Denver Ordinance
- Des Moines – Energy and Water Benchmarking (Paused)
- Detroit – Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance
- Edina – Efficient Buildings Ordinance
- Evanston – Healthy Buildings Ordinance (Benchmarking)
- Fort Collins – Building Energy and Water Scoring (BEWS)
- Honolulu – Better Buildings Benchmarking
- Indianapolis – Thriving Buildings (Now Voluntary)
- Kansas City – Energy Empowerment Ordinance
- Lakewood – Building Energy Benchmarking Program
- Los Angeles – Existing Buildings Energy & Water Efficiency Program
- Madison – Building Energy Savings Program (BESP)
- Maryland – Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS)
- Massachusetts – Large Building Energy Reporting
- Miami – Building Efficiency 305 (BE305)
- Milwaukee – Efficient Buildings Benchmarking Ordinance
- Minneapolis – Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
- Minnesota – Large Building Energy Benchmarking
- Montgomery County – Building Energy Benchmarking Law
- New Jersey – Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking
- New Orleans – Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
- New York City – Local Law 84
- Newton – Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)
- Oregon – Building Performance Standard
- Orlando – Building Energy & Water Efficiency Strategy (Benchmarking)
- Philadelphia – Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
- Pittsburgh – Building Benchmarking Ordinance
- Portland – Commercial Building Energy Performance Reporting
- Providence – Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO)
- Reno – Energy and Water Efficiency Program
- Saint Paul – Energy Benchmarking (Now Under Minnesota State Program)
- Salt Lake City – Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance
- San Diego – Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
- San Francisco – Existing Buildings Energy Ordinance
- San José – Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance
- Seattle – Energy Benchmarking Law
- St. Louis – Building Energy Awareness Ordinance
- Washington DC – Clean and Affordable Energy Act
- Washington State – Clean Buildings Performance Standard
Key energy benchmarking deadlines for 2027
Here are the next reporting deadlines for some of the largest programs:
| Program | Next deadline | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| New York City LL84Over 25,000 sq ft | May 1, 2027 | Not required |
| Washington, DC10,000+ sq ft | May 3, 2027 | 2027 is a verification year |
| Boston BERDO 2.020,000+ sq ft or 15+ units | May 15, 2027 | Every 5 years |
| Chicago50,000+ sq ft | June 1, 2027 | Every 3 years |
| California AB 802Over 50,000 sq ft | June 1, 2027 | Not required |
| Seattle20,000+ sq ft | June 1, 2027 | BEPS verification from October 1, 2027 |
| Energize Denver25,000+ sq ft | June 1, 2027 | After your final target year |
| Maryland BEPS35,000+ sq ft | June 1, 2027 | Next in 2031 |
Learn more in our guide to third-party verification.
How to comply with energy benchmarking laws
- First, confirm whether your building is covered. Most laws use a size threshold between 10,000 and 50,000 sq ft, and many cities publish a covered buildings list.
- Next, request 12 months of whole-building energy and water data from your utilities and tenants.
- Then enter the data in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and check property details such as floor area and use type.
- After that, complete third-party verification if this is a verification year for your building.
- Finally, submit the report to your city or state by the deadline and keep your records.
What are the benefits of Energy benchmarking?
- Reduce energy consumption
- Find irregularities in utility bills
- Set milestones to lower energy consumption
What information is collected for energy Benchmarking?
- Energy Bills (Electricity, Natural Gas, Steam, District Energy, Any Other Purchased Fuel)
- Water Bills
- Floor Plan Documentation
Some cities also require an independent review of this data or periodic audits. See our guides to third-party verification of benchmarking data and energy audit compliance by city.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
Energy benchmarking compliance FAQs
Which cities require energy benchmarking?
More than 50 US cities and states, including New York City, Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC, Seattle, Denver, Philadelphia and all of California. Each program has its own size threshold and deadline, listed on this page.
When are energy benchmarking reports due?
Most programs are due between May 1 and June 30 each year and cover the previous calendar year. A few use other dates, such as Newton, which is due September 15.
What happens if I miss the benchmarking deadline?
Most cities issue warnings first, then fines. Penalties range from a few hundred dollars to daily or quarterly fines, depending on the program.
Do I need third-party verification?
Only in some programs. Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC, Maryland and others require verified data on a set schedule, while New York City LL84 and California do not.
Can Energy Fave handle benchmarking for my portfolio?
Yes. We collect utility data, update Portfolio Manager, coordinate verification and file reports for buildings in every covered city and state.