What is Local Law 84?
Local Law 84 of NYC mandates owners of buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to annually measure their energy and water consumption through a process called benchmarking.
Building owners are required to use the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online benchmarking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager®, to enter and submit the usage data to the City.
Local Law 84 Deadlines
The deadline for submitting benchmarking data is May 1 of every year. Once you have submitted a satisfactory report by the deadline, there is no additional responsibility until the following year.
If you do not submit a report by May 1, you may aim for the next quarterly deadline of August 1. Subsequent deadlines are November 1 and February 1 of the following year.
Local Law 84 Requirements
The annual benchmarking compliance process consists of the following steps:
- Check the Covered Buildings List (CBL) for your property every year. The 2023 NYC Benchmarking Law Covered Buildings list for 2022 calendar year data submissions can be found here.
- Gather data on the energy and water consumption of your building(s). This data may include utility bills, square footage information, and other relevant data to calculate your building’s energy performance.
- Report your property’s energy and water usage data to the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). This data must cover the previous calendar year. The reporting process is done through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and you’ll need to input your energy and water usage data for the covered building(s) into the system.
- Submit your annual energy benchmarking report to the NYC DOB. If you have completed all the necessary steps, you should receive the Energy Star confirmation email (Data Release Receipt) with attached excel spreadsheet confirming your submission. If you receive an error message following your submission, make sure to correct the errors and resubmit your report until it is accepted.
Local Law 84 Fines
Failure to benchmark will result in a DOB violation and a penalty of $500. Continued failure to benchmark by subsequent deadlines of August 1, November 1, and February 1 will result in additional violations on a quarterly basis and a penalty of $500 per quarter with a maximum of $2,000 per year.
| Deadline | Penalty |
| May 1 | $500 |
| August 1 | $500 |
| November 1 | $500 |
| February 1 (of the following year) | $500 |
Local Law 84 Fines
Failure to benchmark will result in a DOB violation and a penalty of $500. Continued failure to benchmark by subsequent deadlines of August 1, November 1, and February 1 will result in additional violations on a quarterly basis and a penalty of $500 per quarter with a maximum of $2,000 per year.
| Deadline | Penalty |
| May 1 | $500 |
| August 1 | $500 |
| November 1 | $500 |
| February 1 (of the following year) | $500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Building owners need to report energy usage data, along with specific building information. For water use, benchmarking results will be uploaded by the Department of Environmental Protection for all buildings equipped by the DEP with automatic water meters for the full previous year.
Building owners can hire a representative and seek assistance from qualified professionals, such as energy consultants or engineers, who are experienced in Local Law 84 compliance. Additional resources and guidelines are available on the NYC.gov website.
In some cases, extensions may be available. Building owners should contact the relevant authorities to inquire about extension possibilities and requirements.