Property Size

Commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings over 20,000 Sq. Ft.

Annual benchmarking reporting requires 12 calendar months of whole-building energy, water, and building use data. For example, in 2025, building owners must report 12 months of 2024 data.

June 1, annually. Benchmarking reports must be submitted on an annual basis using the previous year’s data via ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. This is the EPA’s benchmarking tool that is used for compliance reporting in most ordinances across the country.

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are often considered Phase II of these building energy use ordinances. After reporting your benchmarking data, many ordinances require you to make changes to the building’s operations or equipment to lower energy use over time.

The Los Angeles EBEWE requirements are split into two phases. Phase I is the benchmarking requirement. Phase II requires covered properties to undergo ASHRAE Level II Energy & Water Audits and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx), outlined below.

ASHRAE LEVEL II AUDIT (A)

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level II Audit includes an in-depth identification and documentation of a building’s energy and water-use equipment, by examining existing conditions to pinpoint potential areas of improvement for energy and water efficiency. A building must meet or exceed ASHRAE Level II standards to comply.

RETRO-COMMISSIONING REPORT (RCx)

The report creates a schedule of maintenance and repairs (i.e. “tune-ups”) for existing building systems (energy and water). The owner does not have to utilize these options to comply with the ordinance. The owner must only be informed that such options and incentives exist.

DEADLINES

EBEWE’s audit and retro-commissioning requirements are due by December 31 every 5 years. Compliance cycles are based on the last digit of the LA DBS Building ID. For 2026, buildings whose ID ends in 0 or 1 will need to complete the A/RCx requirement.

ENERGY EXEMPTIONS

Buildings must meet one of the following requirements to be exempt:

1. ENERGY STAR Certification for the building’s compliance year (CY). Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
2. ENERGY STAR Certification for two of the three years preceding the building’s compliance year. Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
3. For property types not eligible to receive an ENERGY STAR score, the building must perform 25% better than the national median of similar building types.
4. The building has reduced its Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 15% when compared to the five years before a building’s compliance due date.
5. A building that does not have a central cooling system or has a cooling system having an aggregate input capacity of less than 100 refrigeration tons (1,200,000 Btu/h) and has completed four of six prescribed measures within the five-year Phase II compliance cycle, in accordance with Title 24, and permitted when required.
6. The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
7. The tenant pays the energy and water bills as specified in Section 91.9704.

WATER EXEMPTIONS

Buildings must meet one of the following requirements to be exempt:

1. The building has reduced its Water Use Intensity by at least 20% when compared to the five years prior to the building’s compliance due date.
2. A building with no central cooling system or a cooling system that does not operate by the consumption of water as part of the cooling process and has installed two of the three prescribed measures within the five-year Phase II compliance cycle, in accordance with Title 24, and permitted when required.
3. The building’s water use conforms to the LA Municipal and Title 24 Code in effect at any time during the five-year compliance cycle.
4. The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
5. The tenant pays the energy and water bills as specified in Section 91.9704.

LA EBEWE violations will result in a $202 non-compliance fee. Payment of this fine does not constitute compliance. The building will remain out of compliance with the City of Los Angeles and will be subject to further legal action.

Additionally, the compliance status of each building is posted publicly and may be recorded on the property as an open violation in the future.

CONTACT US HERE to learn more and get started with compliance.

LA EBEWE compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like VCA Green streamlines the entire process while ensuring accurate reporting. We also offer free consultations with our benchmarking clients to review the reports and identify inefficiencies to improve.

Ordinances such as LA EBEWE are already in effect across the country, and deadlines are rapidly approaching. Retrieving historical building data will take time, especially when coordinating with property managers and utilities.

Waiting until the last minute risks missing compliance windows resulting in fines and enforcement penalties. VCA Green takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you will reach compliance.