LL84 Local Law 84 of 2009 (as amended) Active — annual filing
What is Local Law 84?
Local Law 84 requires owners of NYC buildings over 50,000 sq ft to annually benchmark their building's energy and water consumption using EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The data is submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings by May 1 each year and is made publicly available.
LL84 is the foundation of NYC's entire building energy law system — it generates the data used for LL33 energy grades, LL97 emissions calculations, and LL87 audit benchmarks.
May 1
Annual filing deadline
$500
Min fine for failure to file
$2,000
Max fine for failure to file
50,000
Sq ft threshold for coverage
How the LL84 Ecosystem Works
NYC Building Energy Law System — How the Laws Connect
Source: NYC Mayor's Office of Climate & Sustainability
LL84
Benchmark — Owner files annual energy/water data in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This generates the EUI (Energy Use Intensity) score.
LL33
Grade — DOB converts the ENERGY STAR score into an A–F letter grade that must be posted on the building exterior.
LL87
Audit — Every 10 years, a licensed engineer audits the building systems and performs retro-commissioning to optimize existing equipment.
LL97
Cap & Fine — LL84 data feeds the annual GHG calculation. If emissions exceed the cap, fines of $268/metric ton apply.
What Gets Filed
- Energy use — Total annual electricity, natural gas, steam, and fuel oil consumption
- Water use — Total annual water consumption in gallons
- Building characteristics — Gross sq ft, occupancy type, operating hours
- ENERGY STAR score — Generated automatically by Portfolio Manager for eligible building types (1–100 scale)
- EUI — Energy Use Intensity: kBtu per sq ft per year
Fine Schedule
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Failure to submit benchmarking report by May 1 | $500–$2,000 per year |
| Submitting materially inaccurate data | $500–$2,000 |
| Failure to file triggers Grade F under LL33 | Grade F posted + $1,250/yr |
Related Laws