NYC Local Law 133 expanded the City’s benchmarking requirements established under Local Law 84 to include additional mid-sized buildings. As a result, applicable buildings between 25,000 and 50,000 square feet are required to annually benchmark and report their energy and water consumption.
This expanded requirement helps building owners track energy performance, identify efficiency opportunities, and support New York City’s broader energy and sustainability goals.
The annual Local Law 133 benchmarking deadline is May 1, consistent with Local Law 84 requirements. Covered building owners must submit complete and accurate energy and water consumption data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® by the applicable deadline to maintain compliance.
If the May 1 deadline is missed, subsequent quarterly compliance deadlines are August 1, November 1, and February 1 of the following year. Failure to submit required benchmarking data on time may result in additional violations and penalties.
The Local Law 133 benchmarking process generally includes the following steps:
SFE provides comprehensive benchmarking support, from applicability review and utility data collection to Portfolio Manager setup, submission, and follow-up, helping building owners maintain accurate and timely compliance.
Failure to comply with Local Law 133 benchmarking requirements may result in a DOB violation and a $500 penalty for each missed quarterly deadline. Continued non-compliance may result in additional quarterly penalties, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year.
Timely and accurate benchmarking helps building owners avoid unnecessary violations and penalties. SFE can manage the entire benchmarking process on your behalf, helping ensure your property remains compliant with NYC requirements year after year.
Yes. Local Law 33 requires owners of buildings with a gross area of 25,000 square feet or more to obtain Building Energy Efficiency Rating labels on an annual basis to display near public-facing entrances. If your building is on the Covered Buildings List and is required to benchmark, you are also required to comply with Local Law 33.
It’s possible, but not necessarily. The covered buildings list might not include every single eligible building, so it’s worth double-checking the criteria for benchmarking and reaching out to the relevant authorities to be sure.
The only way to resolve a benchmarking violation is to pay the associated fine. To pay a benchmarking violation penalty, log into eFiling at www.nyc.gov/dobefiling and select Express Cashier Payments, Other Fees and Benchmarking Violation Fees. Payment can be made by eCheck or credit card, which includes a 2% service charge.
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