What is New York City Local Law 97?
Local Law 97 (LL97) establishes that most of New York City’s buildings over 25,000 square feet must meet new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limits. Stricter limits are expected to be established in 2030. The intended goal of LL97 is for the city’s largest buildings to reduce emissions by 40% (by 2030) and be net zero by 2050. Buildings subject to LL97 compliance include:
- A building that exceeds 25,000 gross square feet
- Two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 50,000 gross square feet
- Two or more condominium buildings governed by the same board of managers and that together exceed 50,000 gross square feet
What Does This Mean for My Building?
Compliance deadlines and reduction targets
- Present-2029: initial emission limits begin, targeting a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030
- 2030-2034: stricter limits enforced
- 2050 goal: at least 80% reduction in emissions citywide compared to 2005 levels
Compliance paths
- Improving energy efficiency, including HVAC upgrades, insulation, and LED lighting
- Electrification of heating and cooling systems
- Purchasing renewable energy credits
- Carbon trading or alternative compliance mechanisms
Penalties for non-compliance
- Buildings exceeding their emission limits face fines of $268 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent over the cap
- Additional penalties for failure to file annual emissions reports
Exemptions and adjustments
- Some affordable housing, hospital, and religious buildings may receive exemptions or extensions
- Special provisions for buildings undergoing financial hardship
How Can Dewberry Help Make My Building Compliant?
We can help you meet compliance requirements by delivering a variety of decarbonization solutions to your buildings.
- Standard operating procedure/design guidelines
- Program development
- Carbon offsets and renewable energy credits
- Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing energy conservation measures
- Architectural energy conservation measures
- Solar
- Geothermal
- Low carbon materials
- Battery electrical thermal energy storage systems
- Microgrids
- Distributed energy
- Fuel conversion building electrification
Additionally, our team can help you meet the LL97 reporting requirements, which include:
- Requirement of covered buildings to file a report with the NYC Department of Buildings detailing annual GHG emissions by May 1
- Report must be certified by registered design professional
To learn more about LL97 requirements, visit the NYC Buildings website.
Contact us
Looking for consultant support to make your building LL97 compliant? Get in touch with our team: