Benchmarking Compliance
Simplify compliance, streamline reporting, & increase portfolio-wide transparency
Utility benchmarking is the practice of measuring how much energy and water a building consumes and comparing that against other, similar buildings. This allows owners and occupants to understand their buildings’ energy performances relative to similar buildings and helps identify opportunities to cut waste. Many cities, states, and municipal governments across North America have passed utility benchmarking ordinances, requiring buildings to track and report their annual energy and water consumption.
Utility benchmarking and transparency allows building owners, governments, and the public to better understand how their buildings use energy and water. With this knowledge, they can make smarter and more cost-effective improvements, comply with local laws & avoid fines, save money & cut waste, and support the local economy. A majority of the available savings can be achieved with only low- or no-cost changes.
In order to mitigate your risk of being penalized for failing to comply or missing a deadline, make sure you study the information below* to gain an understanding of the requirements and deadlines. Check out our best practice guide for simplified benchmarking compliance, reporting, and transparency: Download guide
Identify your property by location, type, and square footage to find your benchmark compliance deadline **
Ann Arbor, MI 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Aspen, CO 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 15,000+ sqft.
Atlanta, GA 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Written notice of first violation; Fine of $1,000 if 30 days late, an additional $1,000 every year thereafter
Austin, TX 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 10,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Proof of culpable mental state is not required for a fine of up to $500. If a person acts with criminal negligence, a fine of up to $2,000 may be assessed.
Berkeley, CA 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 15,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 15,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Owners that fail to comply with the ordinance may be subject to a fine of $100 for each violation, and an additional fine of up to $25 for each day that the violation continues, up to a maximum of $1,000 per violation
Bloomington, MN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 75,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 75,000+ sqft.
Boston, MA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/15/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft. OR 15+ dwellings
Penalties for non-compliance:
$75 to $200 per day for owners. Maximum annual fine is $3,000. Non-residential tenants may be fined up to $35 at a time for failing to supply building owners with their energy data. Residential tenants will not be fined.
GHG emissions limit:
Link to emissions limit infoBoulder, CO 2023 deadline extended
Due date:
09/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Failure to comply with the ordinance can result in fines of $0.0025 per square foot up to $1,000 per day of non-compliance.
Additional notes:
Large industrial campuses have their own custom requirements.
Brisbane, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/15/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 10,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 10,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 10,000+ sqft.
California, Statewide 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
The California Energy Commission is authorized to impose a civil fine, as provided, for a violation of data submission requirements.
Cambridge, MA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50+ dwellings
Penalties for non-compliance:
First violation results in a warning. Subsequent violations result in a fine of $300 per day.
Chicago, IL 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Owner subject up to $100 fine for 1st violation and additional fines up to $25/day
Chula Vista, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/20/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Colorado, Statewide 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Columbus, OH 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Denver, CO 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
DDPHE will offer in-person trainings on how to benchmark as well as help center support to provide one-on-one responses to questions and follow-up with any owners who have not complied on-time or who had obvious data errors. Any buildings in non-compliance after the June 1 deadline will be notified about a 90-day grace period and assistance in complying will be offered. Buildings still in non-compliance at the end of the 90-day grace period will be assessed a penalty of $2,000.
Des Moines, IA 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Late submissions (more than 30 days) will be charged a $50 late fee. Failure to remediate non-compliance within 30 days will result in a $300 violation fee. Subsequent violations will be charged a $500 fee.
Edina, MN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Evanston, IL 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
06/30/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter will be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each such offense. Every month a violation continues will be deemed a separate offense.
Fort Collins, CO 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 5,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 5,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Non-compliance can result in a fee of up to $1000 per violation
Honolulu, HI 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
06/30/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 100,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 100,000+ sqft.
Indianapolis, IN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 100,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 100,000+ sqft.
Kansas City, MO 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Written warning for first failure to comply; fine of up to $500 if compliance not met within 60 days of warning; additional to other remedies, city may file suit
Los Angeles, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Failure to comply with this division shall subject the owner to noncompliance fees as specified in Section 98.0411 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, except that the amount of the noncompliance fee shall be $202.
Massachusetts, Statewide 2025 tentative deadline
Due date:
06/30/2025
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Ordinance website coming soon
Miami, FL 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
06/30/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 200,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 200,000+ sqft.
Additional notes:
Commercial & multifamily properties between 100,000 sqft. and 199,999 sqft. will be required to submit their utility usage data on October 1st, 2023
Minneapolis, MN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Warning notice mailed to the building owner, indicating 45 days to comply else face a penalty. Failure to comply with penalties may result in a suspension of commercial building registration.
Montgomery County, MD 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 250,000+ sqft.
New Jersey, Statewide New in 2023
Due date:
10/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
New York, NY 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
$500 fine for missing May 1st benchmarking deadline, additional $500 fines for each subsequent quarter failing to benchmark (maximum: $2,000)
GHG emissions limit:
Link to emissions limit infoOntario, Canada 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Failure to comply with the benchmarking requirements will result in public transparency status being listed as "non-compliant".
Orlando, FL 2023 deadline extended
Due date:
08/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Violations of this section are punishable as provided in Article I, Chapter 5, of the Orlando City Code. However, no owner of a covered property found to be in violation of this Part shall be fined more than $2,000 per year.
Philadelphia, PA 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
06/30/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
$300 fine for the 1st 30 days, and then $100/day
Pittsburgh, PA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Failure to comply with the benchmarking requirements will result in publicly being listed as non-compliant on the online platform, described as "eligible and non-participating".
Portland, ME 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50+ dwellings
Penalties for non-compliance:
For the first violation, a written warning may be issued. Any subsequent or ongoing violation will be subject to a fine of up to $20.00 per day.
Portland, OR Suspended for 2023
Due date:
04/22/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
$500 for every 90 day period during which violations continue.
Reno, NV 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
04/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 30,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 30,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
A written notice may be issued for the violation; if the information is not reported within 30 days, a penalty of up to $500 depending on length of time.
Saint Paul, MN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Salt Lake City, UT 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
The Director may issue up to three written notices of noncompliance to the Owner, allowing Owner to remedy such noncompliance within 90 days after each notice of violation. After the third written notice of violation, the Director may impose a fine of up to $500 per violation thereafter not exceeding a total of $1,000 annually.
San Diego, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft. OR 17+ residential units
San Francisco, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 10,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
San Jose, CA 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Seattle, WA 2023 deadline approaching!
Due date:
07/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Penalties accrue quarterly, starting 90 days after reporting deadlines. Buildings 50,000 SF or greater: $1,000/quarter. Buildings greater than or equal to 20,000 SF and less than 50,000 SF: $500/quarter
South Portland, ME 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 20,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 20,000+ sqft.
St. Louis, MO 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
05/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 50,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 50,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
If benchmarking information is not reported within 60 days after a written warning is issued, the owner is subject to a fine of at least $50 and not more than $200. Each day of the violation is a separate offense. Cumulative fine cannot exceed $1,000.
St. Louis Park, MN 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
06/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Washington, DC 2023 deadline passed
Due date:
04/01/2023
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Multifamily properties: 25,000+ sqft.
- Industrial properties: 25,000+ sqft.
Penalties for non-compliance:
Up to $100 per day.
Washington, Statewide 2026 tentative deadline
Due date:
06/01/2026
Property types required:
- Commercial properties: 220,000+ sqft.
Questions?
Submit your questions about local benchmarking compliance below!
The above data was last updated on 05/30/2023 & will be periodically updated.
This page provides a brief overview of compliance requirements for local benchmarking ordinances in North America; if you are still unclear about the requirements or unsure if your building is required to comply, make sure to contact us for clarification today.
