• Large Residential: ≥ 35 units OR ≥ 35k sq ft.
• Large Commercial: ≥ 35k sq ft
• Medium Bldgs: 20k–35k sq ft (Starts 2030)

BERDO 2.0 shifts Boston from simple annual reporting to strict carbon emissions limits. It covers ~4% of buildings but targets ~60% of citywide emissions, mandating Net Zero by 2050.

• Commercial: ≥ 10,000 sq ft
• Multifamily: ≥ 10,000 sq ft
• Industrial: ≥ 10,000 sq ft
• City Buildings: ≥ 2,000 sq ft

Brisbane's ordinance is comprehensive, targeting smaller buildings (10k sq ft) than most cities. It uses a "Beyond Benchmarking" phase every 5 years, requiring owners to either prove high performance or commit to specific efficiency upgrades (audits/retro-commissioning).

• Large Non-Res: ≥ 100,000 sq ft (Net Zero 2035)
• Medium Non-Res: 25,000–99,999 sq ft (Net Zero 2050)
• Residential: ≥ 50 units (Reporting Only - No Cuts Yet)

Cambridge has enacted one of the fastest timelines in the country. While Boston targets 2050, Cambridge mandates Net Zero by 2035 for large commercial buildings, accelerating the need for electrification and efficiency by 15 years.

• Commercial: ≥ 20,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 20,000 sq ft (5+ units)
• Industrial: ≥ 20,000 sq ft

Chula Vista's BESO ordinance uses a "Score Trigger" system. If a building is inefficient (Score < 80) for too long, it triggers a mandatory audit and retro-commissioning cycle. The goal is to uplift the bottom tier of building stock without penalizing high performers.

• Commercial: ≥ 50,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Public Buildings: ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Exempt: Industrial, Agricultural, Storage

Colorado's statewide law targets Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) reduction, not just energy use. It mandates a 7% reduction by 2026 and 20% by 2030 (vs 2021 baseline).

• Commercial/Multifamily: ≥ 25k sqft.
• Industrial/Mfg: Special "Manufacturing" designation
• Small Bldgs: 5k-25k sqft (Prescriptive)

Denver adopted the Energize Denver Ordinance in 2021 to transition from annual benchmarking to mandatory efficiency targets, directly supporting the city's goal of Net Zero emissions by 2040.

• Commercial: ≥ 20,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 20,000 sq ft
• Condominiums: ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• City Buildings: ≥ 10,000 sq ft

Passed in March 2025, this law is the first BPS in Illinois. It mandates that covered buildings eliminate on-site emissions (gas combustion) and procure 100% renewable electricity by 2050, supporting Evanston's Climate Action Plan (CARP).

• Commercial: ≥ 35,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 35,000 sq ft.
• State Buildings: ≥ 35,000 sq ft.
• Exempt: Manufacturing, Historic, Agricultural

Maryland's statewide BEPS focuses heavily on Direct GHG Emissions (burning fossil fuels on-site). While Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets will be added in 2027, the primary mandate is to eliminate on-site combustion by 2040.

• Non-Residential: ≥ 25,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 25,000 sq ft.
• County Buildings: ≥ 25,000 sq ft.

To achieve the county's aggressive goal of Net Zero Emissions by 2035, this law establishes long-term energy efficiency standards, requiring buildings to improve their own specific baseline performance over 5-year cycles.

• Commercial: ≥ 25,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 25,000 sq ft
• Affordable Housing: Special "Article 321" Prescriptive Path

Local Law 97 is the "Gold Standard" of building emissions laws. It places strict Carbon Caps on buildings starting in 2024. The limits tighten drastically in 2030, aiming to reduce citywide emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.

• Large Commercial: ≥ 100,000 sq ft (Tier 1)
• Medium Commercial: ≥ 20,000 sq ft (Tiers 2-4)
• Residential: Reporting Proposed (Likely starts 2026)

Newton's BERDO mirrors Boston's law but with a key difference: it focuses primarily on Direct Emissions (fossil fuels burned on-site) because the state grid is cleaning up electricity. It targets ~300 large buildings responsible for 23% of city emissions.

• Tier 1 (Performance): Non-Res / Hotel / Motel ≥ 35,000 sq ft.
• Tier 2 (Reporting Only):
  • Non-Res 20k–35k sq ft.
  • Multifamily, Schools, Hospitals ≥ 35,000 sq ft.

Oregon's BPS is based on ASHRAE Standard 100. Uniquely, Multifamily, Schools, and Hospitals are currently "Tier 2," meaning they must report data but do not yet have mandatory performance reduction targets (unlike Commercial Tier 1).

• Non-Residential: 50,000 sq ft
• Mixed-Use: If non-res portion ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Exempt: Residential / Multifamily (Benchmarking only)

Unlike NYC or Boston, Philadelphia's BEPP is a Prescriptive law. It does not set a hard carbon cap yet, though Philadelphia aims for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Instead, it mandates a "Tune-Up" every 5 years to identify and fix operational inefficiencies (e.g., broken sensors, leaks, scheduling errors).

• Commercial: ≥ 30,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 30,000 sq ft
• Industrial: ≥ 10,000 sq ft

Reno's EWEP is a "Performance-Triggered" law. While annual benchmarking is mandatory for everyone, buildings that perform poorly (below standards) are triggered into a mandatory "Performance Phase" requiring an audit and action plan.

• Commercial: ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Multifamily: ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Municipal: ≥ 50,000 sq ft

St. Louis set aggressive targets requiring buildings to hit specific Site EUI numbers by May 2025. The goal is to bring the bottom 65% of buildings up to the efficiency of the top 35%, ratcheting down every 4 years toward carbon neutrality.

• Commercial: 10,000 sq ft (Benchmarking)
• Renewable Mandate: Commercial ≥ 50,000 sq ft
• Multifamily: ≥ 50,000 sq ft (Benchmarking only)

San Francisco focuses on Transparency (Audits) and Grid Decarbonization (Renewable Power). While it doesn't yet have a "Carbon Fine" like NYC, it mandates that large commercial buildings switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2030 to eliminate Scope 2 emissions.

• Commercial: ≥ 20,000 sq ft.
• Multifamily: ≥ 20,000 sq ft
• City Buildings: ≥ 15,000 sq ft

San Jose's BPO goes "Beyond Benchmarking" by requiring buildings to prove efficiency or improve it. It supports the Climate Smart San José plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, one of the most aggressive city goals in the US.

• Commercial (Non-Res): ≥ 20,000 sq ft
• Multifamily: ≥ 20,000 sq ft
• Portfolios:Aggregate sq ft applies

Seattle BEPS works in tandem with Washington State law but targets Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) rather than just energy efficiency. Its goal is to fully decarbonize the city's building sector by 2050.