Atlanta Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance
What is Atlanta's Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance?
Atlanta’s Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (CBEEO), adopted in 2015, requires owners of commercial, multifamily and municipal buildings to benchmark their energy and water use every year and report it to the City’s Mayor’s Office of Resilience.
The ordinance has two parts:
- Annual benchmarking: covered buildings report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager by June 1.
- Energy audits: once every 10 years, buildings complete an energy audit, scheduled by the last digit of the Atlanta Building ID (ABID).
What buildings must comply with the Atlanta ordinance?
- Commercial and multifamily buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more
- Municipal buildings of 10,000 sq ft or more
Your building may qualify for an exemption if it had no temporary or permanent certificate of occupancy for the year, demolition has begun, it had no utility service, the owner faces financial hardship, or aggregated electricity data is unavailable and there is no master meter (with extra conditions for commercial buildings).
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Atlanta gives owners time to fix a missed filing before fines start:
- 30 days late: the City sends a written warning.
- Another 30 days without compliance: a fine of $1,000.
- Each later non-compliant year: an additional $1,000 fine.
What is the benchmarking compliance process?
Atlanta owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A typical filing looks like this:
- First, confirm your building is covered and note its Atlanta Building ID (ABID).
- Next, set up or update the property in Portfolio Manager with accurate floor area and use details.
- Then enter 12 months of whole-building energy and water data. Request aggregated data from Georgia Power and your gas marketer where tenants are separately metered.
- Submit your report to the City through Portfolio Manager by June 1.
- Finally, check the last digit of your ABID to see when your 10-year energy audit is due.
What is the deadline for Atlanta energy benchmarking?
Atlanta benchmarking reports are due June 1 every year and cover the previous calendar year.
Next deadlineJune 1, 2027 for calendar-year 2026 data
Energy audits follow a 10-year schedule by ABID. If your ID ends in 7, your audit is due in 2027.
Atlanta energy audit schedule by ABID
Every covered building completes an energy audit once every 10 years. The year depends on the last digit of your Atlanta Building ID:
| ABID ends in | Audit year | Next audit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2026 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2027 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2028 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2029 | 2039 |
| 0 | 2030 | 2040 |
Tip: buildings with IDs ending in 1 through 5 completed their audits in 2021–2025 and are next due in 2031–2035.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose of the Atlanta ordinance?
The ordinance is part of Atlanta’s plan to shrink its carbon footprint and create local jobs. It serves two main goals:
Cut energy use and emissions. The City set a goal of reducing commercial building energy use 20% by 2030, and benchmarking plus audits show owners where to start.
Make performance transparent. Shared data lets tenants and buyers compare buildings. Many owners then go further and pursue ENERGY STAR certification.
To see how other cities handle benchmarking, visit our 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.
Atlanta energy benchmarking FAQs
When is my Atlanta energy audit due?
Every 10 years, based on the last digit of your Atlanta Building ID. For example, an ID ending in 7 owes an audit in 2027 and 2037.
What are the fines for missing the Atlanta deadline?
After a written warning at 30 days late, a $1,000 fine applies if the building remains non-compliant another 30 days, plus $1,000 for each later non-compliant year.
Do multifamily buildings have to benchmark?
Yes. Multifamily buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more must benchmark every year.
What is an ABID?
The Atlanta Building ID is the number the City uses to track each covered building. You need it to submit your report and to know your audit year.
Can Energy Fave handle my Atlanta compliance?
Yes. Energy Fave can submit your benchmarking report and complete your 10-year energy audit.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Atlanta at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Commercial & multifamily 25,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- June 1, 2027The 2026 report was due June 1, 2026. Not filed yet? We can file it now →
- Late penalty
- $1,000 after a warning
- Energy audit
- Every 10 years by ABID
- Reporting tool
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager