NYC Local Law 97 (LL97) is a key component of the Climate Mobilization Act, established to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from New York City buildings. Enacted in 2019, LL97 sets carbon emissions limits for most buildings over 25,000 square feet, with the first compliance period beginning in 2024 and increasingly stringent limits in future years.
The law supports New York City’s long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. For building owners, understanding and planning for Local Law 97 is essential to reducing emissions, managing potential penalties, and improving long-term building performance.
Buildings subject to NYC Local Law 97 are required to report their annual greenhouse gas emissions to the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The first compliance report, covering 2024 calendar-year emissions, was due in 2025, with annual reporting required thereafter.
For the initial 2025 filing period, NYC provided additional filing time and certain extension options for eligible building owners. These included a 60-day grace period through June 30, 2025, as well as additional extensions for qualifying buildings that met applicable requirements.
Building owners should now focus on ongoing annual Local Law 97 compliance, including monitoring building emissions, preparing required documentation, meeting applicable emissions limits, and submitting required reports by the current DOB filing deadline.
SFE provides comprehensive Local Law 97 support, from emissions analysis and compliance planning to energy efficiency improvements, documentation, and DOB filing.
More information about Local Law 97 requirements is available through the NYC Department of Buildings’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting resources.
Local Law 97 compliance does not have to be complicated or costly. SFE provides comprehensive, cost-effective solutions to help building owners reduce emissions, improve building performance, and meet NYC compliance requirements. With extensive experience in building energy efficiency and NYC Local Laws, our team has supported thousands of buildings with practical strategies tailored to each property’s needs.
Failure to comply with Local Law 97 may result in significant financial penalties. Buildings that exceed their annual greenhouse gas emissions limit may be subject to a penalty of $268 for each metric ton of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) above the applicable limit.
Additional penalties may apply for failure to submit the required annual emissions report. Knowingly providing false information or making false statements in a Local Law 97 filing may also result in more serious penalties, including potential criminal liability.
Proactive emissions monitoring and compliance planning can help building owners identify potential exposure, reduce emissions, and avoid costly penalties.
| Occupancy Group | Space Use | 2024-2029 (kg CO₂e/SF/yr) | 2030-2034 (kg CO₂e/SF/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B – Ambulatory Health | Medical Office / Ambulatory Health | 23.81 | 11.93 |
| M – Mercantile | Retail | 11.81 | 4.03 |
| A – Assembly | Assembly | 10.74 | 4.20 |
| R1 – Hotel | Hotel / Transient Residential | 9.87 | 5.26 |
| B – Business | Office | 8.46 | 4.53 |
| E – Educational | School | 7.58 | 3.44 |
| R2 – Residential | Multifamily Housing | 6.75 | 4.07 |
| F – Factory | Factory / Industrial | 5.74 | 1.67 |
| S – Storage | Storage / Warehouse | 4.26 | 1.10 |
Local Laws 84 and 87 of 2009 form the foundation for NYC’s sustainability initiatives:
These laws currently remain separate from Local Law 97 but complement its emissions reduction goals.
Require annual energy benchmarking for buildings over 25,000 square feet. Non-compliance results in fines of $500 per quarter, up to $2,000 annually.
Mandates energy audits and retro-commissioning every ten years for buildings over 50,000 square feet, with penalties starting at $3,000 for late filings.
Building owners can conduct an energy audit to determine their emissions and identify areas where they can make improvements to reduce them.
The fines for non-compliance with Local Law 97 in New York City will begin to be issued starting in 2024. The fines will be based on a building’s carbon emissions, with larger buildings facing larger fines. The fines are designed to increase over time to encourage building owners to take steps to reduce their emissions and comply with the law.
Yes, there are exemptions for certain buildings, such as those that are entirely affordable housing, landmarked, or used for religious worship.
It is possible for NYC to become carbon neutral by 2050, but it would require significant efforts from the city government, private sector, and residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy sources. It’s worth noting that achieving carbon neutrality is a complex and ambitious goal, and it’s not guaranteed that it will be met in 2050, but the city and other cities in the world are taking steps to reduce emissions and decrease dependence on fossil fuels.
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