The Local Law 88 Checklist.

01. Your building is 25,000 sq ft or larger

LL88 generally applies at 25,000 sq ft and up. Smaller buildings are usually out of scope, though tax-lot aggregation can pull them in.

02. Your lighting is LED (or otherwise meets the current energy code)

LL88 requires lighting that meets the energy code — for most buildings that means LED. Older fluorescent fixtures are the most common gap.

03. Large tenant spaces have their own electric meter

Tenant spaces over 5,000 sq ft need their own metering. Often already in place, especially where tenants hold dedicated utility meters.

04. Your compliance is on file with the city

Doing the work and filing it are separate steps. The report goes through the city's BEAM portal, and the obligation stays open until it does.

What a Missed Filing Costs

A covered building that hasn't filed accrues $3,000 a year under DOB's penalty rule: $1,500 for the lighting report and $1,500 for the submetering report, assessed annually until each is on record. Covered tenant spaces still without a required submeter add $500 a year each. Doing the work doesn't stop the fines; filing does. The filing fee is $115.

The extension and deadline guide covers the filing dates that still matter this year. Not sure the building is covered at all? The covered buildings list guide explains the thresholds and has a 10-second checker. The full rules are on the Local Law 88 law page.