NYC Local Law 87 Compliance For Energy Audits & RCx Services

Led by licensed Professional Engineers, we turn mandatory Local Law 87 audits into cost-saving mechanical strategies tailored to your property’s financial reality.

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What is Local Law 87?

Local Law 87 requires NYC buildings over 50,000 square feet to complete an energy audit and retro-commissioning every 10 years.


We don't just hand you a 100-page binder and a bill. We handle the entire process from initial site survey to DOB approval, giving you a clear, cost-effective plan to lower operating costs and protect your asset from Local Law 97 (LL97) carbon penalties.

Local Law 87 FAQs

What Our End-to-End LL87 Service Includes

Our licensed Registered Design Professionals (RDPs) manage every technical requirement mandated by the DOB:


1. ASHRAE Level II Energy Audit

  • In-depth survey of central heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water systems.
  • On-site evaluation of lighting, auxiliary power, and building envelope performance.
  • Identification of low-cost Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) with verified ROI calculations.

2. Retro-Commissioning ($RCx$)

  • Diagnostic testing and calibration of existing mechanical equipment.
  • Adjustments to operating schedules, outdoor reset controls, and sensor settings.
  • Repairs to air leaks, steam traps, and pipe insulation to restore peak baseline efficiency.

3. DOB Filing & Violation Mitigation

  • Full preparation and electronic submission of the official Energy Efficiency Report (EER).
  • Management of DOB fee payments and direct resolution of any open compliance issues.
  • Extension request management (EER2) if your property needs additional filing time.

Tailored Compliance Services by Building Archetype

We match our audit methodology to your specific ownership and financial structure:


  • Market-Rate Properties: We turn mandatory LL87 findings into a strategic roadmap to protect Net Operating Income (NOI) and block upcoming 2030 Local Law 97 carbon fines.
  • Rent-Regulated Buildings: We focus on streamlined, low-friction compliance. We satisfy all DOB requirements while weeding out optional capital recommendations that offer no realistic return.
  • Mixed-Unit Properties: We analyze utility consumption across your unit mix so you only fund energy work that makes clear financial sense for the building.

Mechanical System Specializations

Our engineering team targets the primary failure points of your specific heating setup:



  • District Steam: We audit pressure-reducing valves, perform ultrasonic steam trap testing, and optimize heat exchangers to stop Con Edison steam waste.
  • Oil-Fired Systems: We tune combustion ratios and optimize draft controls to lower fuel delivery costs and soften high oil carbon penalty risks.
  • Gas-Fired Systems: We streamline your filing, correct baseline control schedules, and benchmark your building’s emissions threshold for the 2030 LL97 limits.

LL87 Compliance Deadlines & Penalty Risk

Failing to submit an EER by December 31 of your tax block compliance year results in an immediate $3,000 civil penalty, followed by $5,000 every subsequent year until resolved.

Last Digit of Tax Block Compliance Year Filing Status Action Required
4 2024 Past Due Immediate Violation Resolution
5 2025 Extended Cycle (March 31 2026) Complete Filing Immediately
6 2026 ACTIVE FILING YEAR Schedule Audit Immediately
7 2027 Next Cycle Pre-Audit Planning
8 2028 Next Cycle Schedule Initial Review
9 2029 Upcoming Cycle Pre-Audit Evaluation
0 2030 Upcoming Cycle Long-Term Capital Planning

Local Law 87 Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Local Law 87 and why should I care?

    Local Law 87 (LL87) mandates that NYC buildings over 50,000 gross square feet (or multiple buildings on a lot exceeding 100,000 sq. ft.) undergo an Energy Audit and Retro-Commissioning (RCx) every 10 years. You should care because missing your filing results in immediate city penalties, but more importantly, LL87 exposes energy waste that you can fix to lower monthly operating costs and prepare for Local Law 97 carbon fines.

  • When do I have to start worrying about LL87?

    Your compliance year recurs every 10 years and is strictly determined by the last digit of your NYC tax block number. For example, if your tax block ends in "6", your filing is due by December 31, 2026. Because comprehensive audits, testing, and DOB filings take several months to complete, you should engage an energy engineering team 6 to 12 months before your deadline.

  • What is involved in complying with LL87?

    Component 1: Energy Audit and Energy Efficiency Report.  The energy audit is an assessment of the building’s base systems including but not limited to boiler and domestic hot water equipment, ventilation, and lighting. Based upon this assessment, an energy efficiency report is to be filed with the Department of Buildings. The report includes an inventory of all systems, a breakdown of the energy usage by system, and a list of recommended but not required energy saving measures.


    Component 2: Retro-Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning Report. Retro-Commissioning requires that certain minor deficiencies in the buildings base systems be identified and addressed. Major, capital intensive repairs such as replacing a boiler are not required. The deficiencies and steps taken to correct these deficiencies will be included in the retro-commissioning report which will be filed with the Department of Buildings as part of the Energy Efficiency Report.

  • Can I complete Local Law 87 requirements in-house?

    No. The NYC Department of Buildings requires all LL87 filings to be completed and submitted by a licensed Registered Design Professional (RDP)—a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA). Building staff cannot perform or sign off on the official filing.

  • What is an energy audit?

    An energy audit is a detailed diagnostic survey of your building’s base systems—including HVAC, hot water, lighting, electric, and building envelope. The goal is to analyze energy usage patterns and identify Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) that can reduce consumption and lower utility bills.

  • What is retro-commissioning?

    Retro-commissioning (RCx) is the process of testing, calibrating, and re-tuning existing mechanical equipment to ensure it operates at peak original efficiency. Unlike an audit (which looks at new equipment to buy), retro-commissioning focuses on fixing and optimizing equipment you already own (e.g., fixing steam traps, calibrating thermostats, and sealing duct air leaks).

  • Am I required to spend a ton of money implementing your proposed "energy saving" measures?

    No. You are not legally required to implement the capital improvement recommendations (ECMs) generated during the Energy Audit portion of the report. Those recommendations are meant to inform you of potential ROI opportunities and Local Law 97 mitigation options.

  • What about spending money on retro-commissioning?

    Yes, but only for low-cost operational fixes. Local Law 87 does require you to correct specific operational deficiencies identified during the retro-commissioning ($RCx$) process (such as repairing leaking steam traps, restoring missing pipe insulation, or fixing broken sensor controls). These are low-cost maintenance items designed to yield immediate utility savings.

  • Are penalties imposed for non-compliance with Local Law 87?

    Yes. Failing to file an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) by December 31 of your compliance year results in an immediate Class 2 violation and a $3,000 fine for the first year. The DOB will assess an additional $5,000 fine for every subsequent year the report remains unfiled.

  • Can I comply with LL87 early?

    Yes. Energy audits and retro-commissioning testing completed within the 4 calendar years prior to your designated reporting year can be used to fulfill your LL87 filing requirement, provided they meet all current DOB technical criteria.