Deadline extended for NYC Benchmarking Law (LL84/09 and LL133/16)

New York, NY According to the New York City Department of Buildings, (DOB) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Benchmarking (Local Laws 84/09 and 133/16) compliance deadline for the 2019 calendar year has been granted a 90-day extension. Building owners will not be issued penalty fees if the benchmarking report is submitted to the city by the new deadline of August 1^st, 2020. 

Large Buildings (over 50,000 s/f)

New York City’s Benchmarking Law (LL84/09) requires owners of individual buildings larger than 50,000 s/f, or groups of buildings on a single lot larger than 100,000 s/f, to annually measure their energy and water consumption in a process called benchmarking. Water, electricity, gas, and fuel or steam usage are collected and tracked by the city to help owners use less energy and save money. 

Mid-Sized Buildings (between 25,000 and 50,000 s/f)

In 2016, NYC passed Local Law 133/16, which expands the list of buildings required to benchmark to include buildings 25,000 to 50,000 s/f in size. 

To submit benchmarking reports, owners need to register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and enter utilities data from January 1^st to December 31^st of the previous year into the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

Building owners who did not submit a benchmarking report by May 1^st, 2020 will receive a reminder by the DOB as a notice of non-submission, but will not be subjected to violation fees. Properties on the covered buildings list that do not submit a benchmarking report by the new deadline will receive a Notice of Violation from the DOB and be fined $500. Continued failure to benchmark will result in a $500 penalty each quarter, up to $2,000 per year.