St. Louis Energy Benchmarking & BEPS
What is St. Louis's Building Energy Awareness Ordinance?
St. Louis’s Building Energy Awareness Ordinance requires owners of private and municipal buildings of 50,000 square feet or more to benchmark their energy and water use every year and report it to the City, as they have since 2017.
In 2020, St. Louis became one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) (Ordinance 71132). BEPS uses the same benchmarking data to set site energy use intensity (EUI) targets by property type, with compliance measured in multi-year cycles. The first compliance deadline passed in May 2025, and the Building Energy Improvement Board approved targets for the second compliance cycle in April 2026.
What buildings must comply with St. Louis benchmarking?
- Privately owned buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more, including commercial, institutional and multifamily properties
- City-owned buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more
- Condominium buildings governed by the same board that together exceed 50,000 sq ft
Owners can request an exemption, for example for low occupancy, new construction or financial distress, or a one-time 30-day extension through the City’s BEAM platform. Affordable housing and religious facilities received extra time to meet BEPS targets.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
St. Louis enforces benchmarking and BEPS through fines and permits:
- Missed benchmarking report: fines of $50 to $200 per offense.
- Occupancy permits: non-compliant buildings may be denied new residential or commercial occupancy permits, which can delay leasing.
- BEPS: buildings that fail to meet their EUI target or approved pathway face additional enforcement under Ordinance 71132.
What is the compliance process?
St. Louis owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and the City’s BEAM platform. A typical filing looks like this:
- First, confirm your building is covered and note its St. Louis 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 and water data. Request aggregated data from Ameren, Spire and the City Water Division where tenants are separately metered.
- Submit your report through Portfolio Manager by May 1, or request a one-time 30-day extension in BEAM.
- Finally, compare your site EUI with your BEPS target and choose a compliance pathway for the second cycle.
What is the deadline for St. Louis energy benchmarking?
Private buildings (commercial, institutional and multifamily) must report by May 1 every year. City-owned buildings must report by December 31 each year.
Next deadlineMay 1, 2027 for calendar-year 2026 data
Your 2026 data also shows how far your building is from its second-cycle BEPS target, so now is a good time to plan upgrades.
St. Louis BEPS compliance pathways
Under BEPS, each property type has a site EUI target set at the 35th percentile of local performance. Owners pick one of these pathways:
| Pathway | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| StandardMeet the target | Bring site EUI at or below the target for your property type | Buildings already close to their target |
| Narrow the GapCycles 1–2 | Close a set share of the gap between current EUI and the target | Buildings that need more time for upgrades |
| Early AdopterMulti-cycle | Earn credit for performing well early, covering multiple cycles | High performers |
| CustomAudit-based | Follow an approved plan based on an ASHRAE Level 2 audit | Unusual buildings or major retrofits |
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose of St. Louis's benchmarking ordinance?
Annual benchmarking has proven effective at prompting operational and capital improvements in large buildings. St. Louis uses its ordinance and BEPS to serve two main goals:
Cut energy use and emissions. Benchmarking shows owners where they waste energy, and BEPS requires the lowest performers to improve.
Make performance transparent. Shared data lets tenants and buyers compare buildings and gives owners a clear 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.
This program includes an energy audit, assessment or tune-up requirement. Compare it with other cities in our energy audit compliance guide.
St. Louis benchmarking and BEPS FAQs
What is the difference between benchmarking and BEPS in St. Louis?
Benchmarking is the annual report of your energy and water use. BEPS uses that data to set performance targets your building must meet in each compliance cycle.
Can I get more time to file?
Yes. Owners can request a one-time 30-day extension through the City’s BEAM platform before the deadline.
How is my BEPS target set?
Each property type has a site EUI target at the 35th percentile of local performance, based on 2018 benchmarking data. Targets for the second cycle were approved in April 2026.
Do multifamily buildings have to comply?
Yes. Multifamily buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more must benchmark and meet BEPS targets, although affordable housing received extra time.
Can Energy Fave help with St. Louis BEPS?
Yes. Energy Fave can submit your benchmarking report, compare your EUI with your target, and help you choose a compliance pathway.
Interested in benchmarking help?
St. Louis at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Private & City buildings 50,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- May 1, 2027The 2026 report was due May 1, 2026. Not filed yet? We can file it now →
- Late penalty
- $50–$200 per offense + permit holds
- BEPS
- Cycle 2 targets approved April 2026
- Reporting tool
- Portfolio Manager + City BEAM platform