Local Law 84: NYC Benchmarking Law
The NYC Benchmarking Law, Local Law 84 of 2009 as amended, requires buildings to annually assess the efficiency of their building’s energy and water consumption. First enacted in 2009, this law has set the foundation for sustainable decision-making for NYC building owners.
The NYC Benchmarking Law standardizes the benchmarking process by requiring building owners to submit their annual energy use in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online benchmarking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager® (ESPM), by May 1st of every year. The ESPM property types allow building energy performance to be measured against similar buildings nationwide. By requiring buildings to benchmark, the NYC Benchmarking Law identifies buildings that underperform compared to similarly situated buildings, allows those building owners to easily identify best practices for efficiency improvements from similar buildings, and encourages changes to building operations and maintenance that will result in reduced costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Covered Buildings
As it appears in the records of the department of finance
a building that exceeds 25,000 gross square feet (2323 m²)
two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet (9290 m²)
two or more buildings held in the condominium form of ownership that are governed by the same board of managers and that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet (9290 m²), or
a City building.
Covered Buildings List (CBL)
NOTE: The Covered Buildings List is sorted by the property’s 10-digit borough, block, and lot number (BBL). To find your building on the list, select Control F (CTRL + F) on your computer keyboard to open a search dialog box, and enter your property’s BBL.
To find your property's BBL number, please review your latest property tax bill from the Department of Finance (DOF) by visiting the DOF Property Tax Bill search. Properties listed in the following Covered Buildings List are required to benchmark their 2023 calendar year energy and water consumption prior to May 1, 2024:
Covered Buildings List for Benchmarking Compliance in 2025 (Excel)
Covered Buildings List for Benchmarking Compliance in 2025 (PDF)
All properties on this list must submit energy consumption data to the City through a benchmarking report. If the property is marked as Yes in the Required to report automated water data from DEP? Y/N column, water consumption data will have to be requested from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and must also be submitted in the report. To request a temporary exemption from reporting due to a demolition, a new building (NB) permit, or when a building has not yet obtained its first TCO, email sustainability@buildings.nyc.gov.
A property's status can change from year to year, so be sure to review the newest Covered Buildings List (CBL) every year. A new CBL is made available every February. Property owners are also notified of their property requirement to comply every November in their property tax bills prior to when the new CBL is posted online. If you are not receiving your property tax bills at the correct address, or your CBL address is incorrect, please update your address by visiting http://nyc.gov/changemailingaddress, or contact the Department of Finance (DOF) at sustainablebuildings@finance.nyc.gov. You can also see a property’s tax bill online.
Exceptions
Exceptions: The term covered building shall not include:
Any building owned by the city that participates in the tenant interim lease apartment purchase program
Real property classified as Tax Class 1 (most one- to three-family homes)
Garden style apartments (as certified by a registered design professional)
For full program requirements and FAQs see:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/codes/ll84-benchmarking-law.page
