Local Law 97

Local Law 97: The Climate Mobilization Act (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limits)

Local Law 97 is one of the most ambitious plans for reducing emissions in the nation. Local Law 97 was included in the Climate Mobilization Act, passed by the City Council in April 2019 as part of the Mayor’s New York City Green New Deal.

Under this law, most buildings over 25,000 square feet will be required to meet new energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect in 2030. The goal is to reduce the emissions produced by the city’s largest buildings 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.

Local Law 97 generally covers, with some exceptions:

  1. Buildings that exceed 25,000 gross square feet
  2. Two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 50,000 square feet
  3. Two or more buildings owned by a condo association that are governed by the same board of managers and that together exceed 50,000 square feet. 

BUILDING GHG EMISSION REPORTING

Greenhouse Gas Emission limits are established on a square foot basis by the occupancy of a covered building. For a covered building with spaces classified in more than one occupancy group (see Chapter 3 of the NYC Building Code for Use and Occupancy Classifications), the annual building emissions limit is determined by the sum of the calculated values from Occupancy Groups 1 through 10, as applicable for each space and time frame.

COMPLIANCE

By May 1, 2025, and by May 1 of every year thereafter, the owner of a covered building must file an annual Greenhouse Gas Emission report showing that, for the previous calendar year, such building is either:

  • In compliance with the applicable building emissions limit established in 28-320.3 of the Administrative Code; or
  • Not in compliance with such applicable building emissions limit, along with the amount by which such building exceeds such limit.

VIOLATIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

Beginning in 2025, an owner of a covered building who has submitted a report which indicates that such building has exceeded its annual building emissions limit will be liable for a civil penalty of not more than an amount equal to the difference between the building emissions limit for such year and the reported building emissions for such year, multiplied by $268.