NYC Building Laws
NYC Building Energy Laws
Understand how local energy laws impact the buildings you own or serve and work with NYC Accelerator to chart a path toward compliance.
Staying on Top of NYC Building Regulations
NYC has passed several laws to significantly cut carbon emissions from buildings and improve the quality of life and health of our communities. These laws require building owners to measure, report on, and reduce their building’s energy use and carbon emissions.
NYC Accelerator is here to help. Our team of experts can walk you through what laws apply to your building and help you develop a plan to reduce emissions, lower operating costs, and avoid future penalties.
NYC Building Laws
SMALL BUILDINGS
Policies and requirements for buildings that are less than 25,000 square feet.
- LL85: Energy Conservation Code
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Local Law 85 requires building designs to comply with New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) for any renovation or alteration project. The most recent iteration of the energy code went into effect on May 12, 2020, which no longer exempts renovations affecting less than half of the building system.
- LL92 and LL94: Green Roofs and Solar PV
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Local Laws 92 and 94 require all new buildings and buildings undergoing major roof renovations — where the entire existing roof deck or roof assembly is being replaced — to be entirely covered with solar panels, a green roof, or some combination of the two.
- LL154: All-Electric Buildings
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Local Law 154 limits carbon emissions for new construction and major renovations by prohibiting fossil fuel systems starting in 2024 for low-rise buildings and 2027 for high-rise buildings. Buildings in which half of units are designated as affordable housing have additional time to comply, with low-rise buildings starting in 2026 and high-rise buildings in 2028. LL154 does not allow systems that burn fossil fuel.
NYC Building Laws
LARGE BUILDINGS
Policies and requirements for buildings that are 25,000 square feet or larger.
- LL33 and LL95: Building Energy Grades
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Local Law 33 (amended by Local Law 95) requires building owners to publicly display Building Energy Efficiency Ratings at building entrances starting in October 2020. These ratings include a 1-100 ENERGY STAR® score and a corresponding letter grade to give New Yorkers a snapshot of the building’s energy performance.
Annual Deadlines:
- May 1: Annual energy and water usage data due
- Extension: The deadline for 2022 was extended to May 31.
- October 1: New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) releases building grades
- October 31: Buildings are required to publicly display new building grades
Local Law 33 also applies to facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, facilities with two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, and city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet.
- May 1: Annual energy and water usage data due
- LL84: Energy and Water Benchmarking
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Local Law 84 requires annual benchmarking data to be submitted by May 1. Local Law 84 applies to all buildings larger than 25,000 gross square feet, facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet. This law brings transparency for energy and water usage and informs building owners and occupants on how to make their buildings more efficient. Energy and water consumption data must be collected and reported using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.
- LL85: Energy Conservation Code
-
Local Law 85 requires building designs to comply with New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) for any renovation or alteration project. The most recent iteration of the energy code went into effect on May 12, 2020, which no longer exempts renovations affecting less than half of the building system.
- LL87: Energy Audit
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Local Law 87 requires all buildings exceeding 50,000 gross square feet to conduct an energy audit every 10 years. The energy audit ensures building systems are running efficiently and allows for tuning if necessary, while informing building owners of potential energy efficiency projects (retro-commissioning).
- LL88, LL132, and LL134: Lighting
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Local Laws 88, 132, and 134 require all buildings exceeding 25,000 gross square feet to upgrade all lighting in commercial buildings and common areas of residential buildings by 2024. Sub-meters must be installed in all non-residential tenant space exceeding 5,000 square feet. Monthly statements must be provided to tenants showing amounts for electricity measured and charged.
- LL92 and LL94: Green Roofs and Solar PV
-
Local Laws 92 and 94 (LL92 and LL94) require all new buildings and buildings undergoing major roof renovations to be covered with solar panels, a green roof, or some combination of the two.
- LL97: Building Emissions Cap
- Local Law 97 requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets, starting in 2024. The Department of Buildings provides guidance on compliance and reporting for LL97. The GHG Emission Calculator estimates a building's carbon penalty as a result of non-compliance with NYC Local Law 97 (2019). Input annual utility information and building characteristics to generate emissions thresholds and resulting estimated penalties for three major penalty periods (2024–2029, 2030–2034, and 2035, and later).
- LL154: All-Electric Buildings
-
Local Law 154 limits carbon dioxide (CO2) carbon emissions for new construction and major renovations by prohibiting fossil fuel systems buildings from combustion emitting more than 25 kilograms (kg) of CO2 per million British thermal units starting in 2024 for low-rise buildings and 2027 for high-rise buildings. Buildings in which half of units are half affordable housing in which half of units are designated as affordable housing will have additional time to comply, with low-rise buildings starting in 2026 and high-rise buildings in 2028. LL154 does not allow systems that burn fossil fuel.
NYC Building Laws
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Policies and requirements for new construction projects in NYC.
- LL33 and LL95: Building Energy Grades
-
Local Law 33 (amended by Local Law 95) requires owners of buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet to publicly display the Building Energy Efficiency Rating. Labels include the 1-100 ENERGY STAR ® score and a corresponding letter grade to give New Yorkers a snapshot of the building’s energy performance.
Annual Deadlines:
- May 1st: Annual energy and water usage data is due.
- Extension: The deadline for 2022 was extended to May 31.
- October 1st: New York City Department of Buildings releases building grades
- October 31st: New building grades must be publicly displayed
Local Law 33 also applies to facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, facilities with two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, and city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet.
- May 1st: Annual energy and water usage data is due.
- LL84: Energy and Water Benchmarking
-
Local Law 84 requires annual benchmarking data to be submitted. Local Law 84 applies to all buildings exceeding 25,000 gross square feet, facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet. This law brings transparency for energy and water usage and informs building owners and occupants on how to make their buildings more efficient. Energy and water consumption data must be collected and reported using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and filed annually by May 1.
- LL85: Energy Conservation Code
-
Local Law 85 (LL85) requires building designs to comply with New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) for any renovation or alteration project. The most recent iteration of the energy code went into effect on May 12, 2020, which no longer exempts renovations affecting less than half of the building system.
- LL92 and LL94: Green Roofs and Solar PV
-
Local Laws 92 and 94 require all new buildings and buildings undergoing major roof renovations to be covered with solar panels, a green roof, or some combination of the two.
- LL97: Building Emissions Cap
- Local Law 97 requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets, starting in 2024. The Department of Buildings provides guidance on compliance and reporting for LL97. The GHG Emission Calculator estimates a building's carbon penalty as a result of non-compliance with NYC Local Law 97 (2019). Input annual utility information and building characteristics to generate emissions thresholds and resulting estimated penalties for three major penalty periods (2024–2029, 2030–2034, and 2035, and later).
- LL154: All-Electric Buildings
-
Local Law 154 limits carbon emissions for new construction and major renovations by prohibiting fossil fuel systems buildings from combustion emitting more than 25 kilograms (kg) of CO2 per million British thermal units starting in 2024 for low-rise buildings and 2027 for high-rise buildings. Buildings in which half of units are designated as affordable housing will have additional time to comply, with low-rise buildings starting in 2026 and high-rise buildings in 2028. Local Law 154 does not allow systems that burn fossil fuel.
NYC Accelerator offers free assistance with LL154 for new construction and major renovation projects. Learn more.
NYC Building Laws
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Policies and requirements for buildings designated as affordable housing.
- LL33 and LL95: Building Energy Grades
-
Local Law 33 (amended by Local Law 95) requires owners of buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet to publicly display the Building Energy Efficiency Rating. Labels include the 1-100 ENERGYSTAR ® score and a corresponding letter grade to give New Yorkers a snapshot of the building’s energy performance.
Annual Deadlines:
- May 1: Annual energy and water usage data is due.
- Extension: The deadline for 2022 was extended to May 31.
- October 1: New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) releases building grades.
- October 31: New building grades must be publicly displayed.
Local Law 33 also applies to facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet.
- May 1: Annual energy and water usage data is due.
- LL84 and LL133: Energy and Water Benchmarking
-
Local Law 84 requires annual benchmarking data to be submitted. Local Law 84 is applicable for all buildings exceeding 25,000 gross square feet, facilities with two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or two or more buildings in a condominium form governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, or city buildings exceeding 10,000 gross square feet. This law brings transparency for energy and water usage and informs building owners and tenants on how to make their buildings more efficient. Energy and water consumption data must be collected and reported using ENERGY STAR ® Portfolio Manager. The benchmarking report must be filed annually by May 1.
- LL85: Energy Conservation Code
-
Local Law 85 requires building designs to comply with New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) for any renovation or alteration project. The most recent iteration of the energy code went into effect on May 12, 2020, which no longer exempts renovations affecting less than half of the building system.
- LL87: Energy Audit
-
Local Law 87 requires all buildings exceeding 50,000 gross square feet to conduct an energy audit every 10 years. The energy audit ensures building systems are running efficiently and allows for tuning if necessary, while informing building owners of potential energy efficiency projects (retro-commissioning).
- LL88, LL132, and LL134: Lighting
-
Local Laws 88, 132, and 134 require all buildings exceeding 25,000 gross square feet to upgrade all lighting in commercial buildings and common areas of residential buildings by 2024. In all non-residential tenant space exceeding 5,000 square feet, sub-meters must be installed. Monthly statements must be provided to tenants showing amounts for electricity measured and charged.
- LL92 and LL94: Green Roofs and Solar PV
-
Local Laws 92 and 94 require all new buildings and buildings undergoing major roof renovations to be covered with solar panels, a green roof, or some combination of the two.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will determine a separate compliance pathway for certain types of affordable housing from November 2019 through November 2024 while it studies the impacts on affordability, however, not all affordable housing will be exempt.
- LL97: Building Emissions Cap
-
Local Law 97 requires buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet ambitious carbon reduction targets, starting in 2024. The Department of Buildings provides guidance on compliance and reporting for LL97. The GHG Emission Calculator estimates a building's carbon penalty because of non-compliance with NYC Local Law 97 (2019). Input annual utility information and building characteristics to generate emissions thresholds and resulting estimated penalties for three major penalty periods (2024-2029, 2030-2034, 2035, and later). Affordable or rent-regulated housing may quality for alternate or delayed compliance with LL97.Some affordable housing is subject to delayed compliance requirements. There is also an alternate pathway for certain types of affordable housing. To comply with LL97, affordable housing building owners may choose the Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures (PECM) Path and implement applicable ECMs or demonstrate that emissions are below the 2030 limit by 2024 if specific qualifications are met. These qualifications include buildings where more than 35% of units are rent-regulated, HDFC cooperatives, and buildings with HUD project-based assistance. Buildings must submit a report to the Department of Buildings (DOB) to demonstrate compliance by May 1, 2025.
Buildings with at least one rent-regulated unit where up to 35% of units are rent-regulated must meet the applicable emissions limits starting in 2026 and then subsequent limits beginning in 2030. Certain income-restricted housing is not required to meet the applicable emissions limits until 2035 and then must meet subsequent limits.
Buildings on land owned by New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will make efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, on a portfolio-wide basis, by 40% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050. NYCHA developments in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs are also required to comply.
- LL154: All-Electric Buildings
-
Local Law 154 limits carbon emissions for new construction and major renovations by prohibiting fossil fuel systems buildings from combustion emitting more than 25 kilograms (kg) of CO2 per million British thermal units starting in 2024 for low-rise buildings and 2027 for high-rise buildings. Buildings in which half of units are designated as affordable housing will be delayed in required compliance have additional time to comply, with low-rise buildings starting in 2026 and high-rise buildings in 2028. LL154 does not allow systems that burn fossil fuel.