By Jullee Kim, Emily M. Lamond, and Haley G. Brescia, Cole Schotz, February 28, 2025
As we reported last month, 2025 is the first year most buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) under Local Law 97.
Due by May 1 each year, these reports will reflect the building’s energy usage from the year prior (e.g., reports submitted in May 2025 will report 2024 usage) and demonstrate whether a building complies with its building-specific greenhouse gas emissions cap.
These reports must be submitted through the DOB’s online portal and certified by a registered design professional, such as a licensed engineer or a registered architect (RDP).
The City touts Local Law 97 as one of the most ambitious plans for reducing emissions in the nation. The May 1 annual report deadline is the vehicle for the City to identify those buildings that did not meet their emissions limits. This means, in less than two months, your RDP must be able to answer the following two questions about each building subject to Local Law 97:
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