Local Law · Energy
Local Law 87: energy audits & retro-commissioning
Buildings over 50,000 square feet must, once a decade, have an engineer audit how the building uses energy and re-tune its major systems — then file an Energy Efficiency Report with the City.
What Local Law 87 requires
Local Law 87 requires larger buildings to file an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) once every ten years. The EER has two parts: an ASHRAE Level II energy audit (a professional survey of how the building uses energy and where it’s wasted) and retro-commissioning (tuning existing equipment — controls, dampers, sensors, schedules — so it runs as designed). It’s about finding low- and no-cost efficiency, not mandating capital projects.
Who’s covered and when
Buildings over 50,000 gross square feet. Your ten-year cycle year is assigned by the last digit of your tax block, so different buildings are due in different years. The report is prepared and certified by a registered design professional.
How to comply
- Confirm your assigned reporting year.
- Retain a qualified energy professional (PE/RA) to perform the Level II audit and retro-commissioning.
- Implement the retro-commissioning measures found.
- File the EER through DOB by December 31 of your due year.
Common mistakes
- Confusing LL87 (audit/retro-commissioning) with LL84 (annual benchmarking) — they’re different filings.
- Missing the assigned year because it’s not annual and easy to forget.
Reviewed against current NYC agency guidance by the NYC Building Compliance editorial team. Found something out of date? Tell us. Informational only — not legal or engineering advice.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to file a Local Law 87 energy audit?
Owners of buildings over 50,000 gross square feet, once every ten years, in the year set by their tax block.
What is retro-commissioning?
Tuning a building’s existing systems — controls, sensors, schedules, dampers — so they operate efficiently as designed, without major capital replacement.
What is the penalty for missing Local Law 87?
Roughly $3,000 for the first year of non-compliance and $5,000 for each year after until the report is filed.
Need help handling this?
Tell us about your building and we’ll connect you with an LL87 energy auditor who works on NYC compliance — no cost to ask.
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