Montgomery County Energy Benchmarking & BEPS
What is Montgomery County's energy benchmarking law?
Montgomery County, Maryland’s Benchmarking Law (Bills 2-14 and 35-15) requires owners of commercial and multifamily buildings of 25,000 square feet or more to benchmark their energy use every year in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and report it to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The County also adopted Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), which require covered buildings to meet site energy use intensity (EUI) targets, with interim deadlines starting December 31, 2028. Because the County runs its own program, Montgomery County buildings are exempt from Maryland’s statewide BEPS and report only to the County.
What buildings must comply in Montgomery County?
- Commercial buildings of 25,000 gross sq ft or more
- Multifamily buildings of 25,000 gross sq ft or more
- County-owned buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more
Individually owned or leased spaces that are each under 25,000 sq ft and separately metered may be exempt. Ask DEP if you are unsure whether your property is covered.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Violations of the Benchmarking Law and BEPS are Class A violations under County Code, and DEP can enforce them in several ways:
- Late benchmarking report: civil fines of $500 for a first violation and $750 for repeat violations, and each day of non-compliance can count as a separate violation.
- Missed BEPS standard: buildings without an approved Building Performance Improvement Plan face Class A enforcement, including civil or criminal penalties.
- Bad data: verification every three years catches errors that could affect your BEPS baseline.
What is the compliance process?
Montgomery County owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A typical filing looks like this:
- First, confirm your building is on DEP’s covered list and note its County Building ID.
- 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 data. Request aggregated data from Pepco, BGE or Potomac Edison and Washington Gas where tenants are separately metered.
- In verification years (every three years), have a qualified professional verify your data.
- Finally, submit your report to DEP through Portfolio Manager by June 1, or request an extension of up to 30 days.
What is the deadline for Montgomery County benchmarking?
Montgomery County benchmarking reports are due June 1 every year and cover the previous calendar year. Owners can request an extension of up to 30 days, and more time in extenuating circumstances.
Next deadlineJune 1, 2027 for calendar-year 2026 data
Data verification is required every three years, so check whether 2027 is a verification year for your building. Larger buildings should also plan now for the first BEPS interim standard on December 31, 2028.
Montgomery County BEPS deadlines by building group
BEPS phases in by building type and size. Each group must meet an interim EUI standard first, then a final standard five years later:
| Building type and size | Interim standard | Final standard |
|---|---|---|
| Non-residential 50,000+ sq ftGroups 1–2 | Dec 31, 2028 | Dec 31, 2033 |
| Commercial 25,000–50,000 sq ft; multifamily 250,000+ sq ftGroups 3–4 | Dec 31, 2030 | Dec 31, 2035 |
| Multifamily 25,000–250,000 sq ftGroup 5 | Dec 31, 2031 | Dec 31, 2036 |
Need more time? Owners who cannot meet a standard can apply for a Building Performance Improvement Plan, which sets an approved path to compliance.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose of Montgomery County's benchmarking law?
Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Montgomery County, so the County uses benchmarking and BEPS to measure and improve how they perform. The law serves two main goals:
Cut energy use and emissions. Benchmarking shows owners where they waste energy, and BEPS sets clear targets that support the County’s goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Make performance transparent. Shared data lets tenants and buyers compare buildings and gives owners a reason to improve. Many owners then go further and pursue ENERGY STAR certification.
To see how other cities handle benchmarking, visit our energy benchmarking compliance guide.
Montgomery County benchmarking FAQs
Do Montgomery County buildings have to report to Maryland’s statewide BEPS?
No. Maryland exempts counties that run their own program, so Montgomery County buildings report only to the County.
How often is third-party verification required?
Benchmarking data must be verified every three years, starting with calendar-year 2023 data.
When is my first BEPS standard due?
It depends on your building group. Non-residential buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more face their interim standard on December 31, 2028; smaller and multifamily groups follow in 2030 and 2031.
Can I get an extension on the June 1 deadline?
Yes. Owners can request up to 30 days, with more time possible in extenuating circumstances.
Can Energy Fave handle my Montgomery County compliance?
Yes. Energy Fave can collect your data, coordinate verification, submit your report and help you plan for your BEPS standard.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Montgomery County at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Commercial & multifamily 25,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- June 1, 2027
- Late penalty
- $500 first, $750 repeat (Class A)
- Verification
- Every 3 years
- First BEPS standard
- Dec 31, 2028 (50,000+ sq ft)
If you are interested to learn more how Energy Fave can help with Energy benchmarking for your building or if you have more questions about the whole reporting process, feel free to email us: Info@energyfave.com