What You Need to Know About LL 97

What is Local Law 97?

New York City enacted Local Law 97 (LL97) in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act, with the main goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Local Law 97 establishes carbon emission limits for New York City’s largest buildings. Covered buildings that exceed annual emissions limits will face an annual financial penalty of $268 per ton of CO2 equivalent over the limit based on 2024 energy usage and emissions. Emissions are calculated based on tons of CO2 equivalent per square foot.

When does Local Law 97 come into effect?

The first LL97 compliance period is in 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect in 2030. According to a 2022 city analysis, 11% of buildings required to comply with the law are projected to exceed emissions limits for the 2024-2029 compliance period, and 63% are projected to exceed limits for the 2030-2034 period.

What buildings does Local Law 97 apply to?

• Buildings over 25,000 gross square feet

• Two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 50,000 gross square feet

• Two or more condo buildings governed by the same board of managers that together exceed 50,000 square feet

Note: The Covered Buildings Lists (CBLs) offer details at the borough-block-and-lot (BBL) level rather than the individual building level. Consequently, for BBLs containing multiple buildings, the CBL does not specify which building must follow a specific compliance pathway. Please note that penalties will be applied on a building (BIN) basis. See the DOB's website for more information.