LOCAL LAW 97

What is Local Law 97?

New York City enacted Local Law 97 (LL97) in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act, with the main goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Local Law 97 establishes carbon emission limits for New York City’s largest buildings. Covered buildings that exceed annual emissions limits will face an annual financial penalty of $268 per ton of CO2 equivalent over the limit based on 2024 energy usage and emissions. Emissions are calculated based on tons of CO₂ equivalent per square foot.

When does Local Law 97 come into effect?

The first LL97 compliance period is in 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect in 2030. According to a 2022 city analysis, 11% of buildings required to comply with the law exceeded emissions limits for the 2024-2029 compliance period, and 63% exceeded limits for the 2030-2034 period.

What buildings does Local Law 97 apply to?

• Buildings over 25,000 gross square feet
• Two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together are over 50,000 gross square feet
• Two or more buildings owned by a condo association that are governed by the same board of managers and that exceed 50,000 gross square feet

How do you report your emissions?

Starting in 2025, most buildings exceeding 25,000 gross square feet are required to submit their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) by May 1 each year. These reports will reflect the building's energy usage from the year prior (e.g., reports submitted in May 2025 will include 2024 usage). These reports must be submitted through the DOB’s online portal and certified by a registered design professional, such as a licensed engineer (PE) or a registered architect (RA).

See information guides for reporting:

• 320 Buildings (Marketing Rate Buildings)
• 321 Buildings (Affordable Housing and Houses of Worship)

Note: The Covered Buildings Lists (CBLs) offer details at the borough-block-and-lot (BBL) level rather than the individual building level. Consequently, for BBLs containing multiple buildings, the CBL does not specify which building must follow a specific compliance pathway. Please note that penalties will be applied on a building (BIN) basis. See the DOB's website for more information.

What is in the second rulemaking package DOB published in December of 2023? 

DOB published the final version of the newest package of rules to guide the implementation, which:

• Clarify the mechanics of enforcement and set out penalties for noncompliance.
• Outline penalty mitigation pathways, including what is considered a “Good Faith Effort” to comply with the law’s 2024 carbon limits.
• Create a new credit for early electrification work that building owners can apply toward emissions reduction targets. Two or more buildings owned by a condo association that are governed by the same board of managers and that exceed 50,000 gross square feet.
• Describe reporting requirements and penalties for affordable housing and houses of worship under the law’s Article 321 prescriptive pathway.
• Provide additional guidance regarding requirements for meeting Local Law 88 of 2009: lighting upgrades and submetering.

Go Deeper: For more detailed information, please read the final version of the second DOB rules package or a summary from Urban Green Council.

Don't miss out on free help. NYC Accelerator offers various pathways to help buildings comply on time and avoid fines.

Speak to an LL97 Expert

View Impact on Your Building