Under NYC Local Law 87, a building’s Energy Efficiency Report (EER) filing year is determined by the last digit of its tax block number. For example, a tax block ending in “6” corresponds to a filing year ending in 6.
Once the initial Energy Efficiency Report is filed, covered buildings are generally required to complete an energy audit and retro-commissioning and submit an EER every 10 years according to their designated compliance year.
| Year first EER is due | Last digit of tax block number |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 6 |
| 2027 | 7 |
| 2028 | 8 |
| 2029 | 9 |
| 2030 | 0 |
| 2031 | 1 |
| 2032 | 2 |
The Local Law 87 energy audit and retro-commissioning process generally includes the following steps:
Determine Applicability and Filing Deadline
Confirm whether your building is subject to Local Law 87 and identify its designated compliance year.
Engage Qualified Professionals
Work with qualified energy auditing and retro-commissioning professionals who meet NYC requirements and hold applicable industry credentials.
Conduct Energy Audit & Retro-Commissioning
Evaluate the building’s energy performance and core systems to identify energy conservation measures, operational deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
Prepare and File the Energy Efficiency Report (EER)
Complete the required documentation and electronically submit the EER to the NYC Department of Buildings.
Maintain 10-Year Compliance
Covered buildings are generally required to complete the process and submit an EER every 10 years, according to their designated filing cycle.
SFE has helped hundreds of buildings navigate Local Law 87 compliance. With extensive experience in energy auditing, retro-commissioning, and NYC energy regulations, our team provides practical, cost-effective solutions that help improve building performance while meeting compliance requirements.
From initial applicability review through energy auditing, retro-commissioning, documentation, and filing, SFE supports clients throughout the entire Local Law 87 compliance process.
Local Law 87 (LL87) requires covered buildings to complete an energy audit and retro-commissioning and submit an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) every 10 years.
Failure to submit a required EER is classified as a Major (Class 2) violation and may result in a penalty of $3,000 for the first year of non-compliance and $5,000 for each additional year until the required report is submitted. Outstanding penalties must be resolved as part of the compliance process.
A Local Law 87 violation typically occurs when a building owner does not meet the deadlines or requirements set by the law. This can include failure to submit energy efficiency reports, missing submission deadlines, or not implementing any required measures following retro-commissioning.
Building owners in New York City are required to follow the specific timelines and guidelines outlined in Local Law 87 to avoid violations and penalties. Violations can result in fines and other legal consequences, so it’s essential for building owners to stay informed about their obligations under the law and ensure compliance.
Local Law 87 primarily focuses on energy audits and retro-commissioning for existing buildings 50,000 square feet or more, while Local Law 97 applies to buildings that are 25,000 square feet or larger and focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Buildings that are required to undergo audits and retro-commissioning include the same private sector buildings that must benchmark under Local Law 84: buildings larger than 50,000 square feet, and two or more buildings on a single lot that are larger than 100,000 square feet. The Covered Buildings List for Compliance is updated every year and can be found on the NYC DOB website.
Owners of covered buildings as designated by the Covered Buildings List must submit their Energy Efficiency Reports (EER) to the City by December 31 of the year they are due, once every ten years.
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