Berkeley, CA · Overview
Berkeley Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO)
Berkeley requires buildings over 15,000 sq ft to file an annual benchmark report; buildings 25,000+ sq ft also complete a comprehensive energy assessment every 5 years. Smaller buildings comply only at time of listing/sale via an assessment and disclosure in escrow. Berkeley is a CEC-exempt jurisdiction, so this local filing also satisfies state AB 802.
Verified against primary sources
Filing deadline
Jul 1
Annually, for the prior calendar year
- City fee
- No city fee on file.
- Files via
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, plus the City of Berkeley BESO filing.
Filing facts
What the registry knows
- Who’s covered
- Buildings 15,000 sq ft or larger. Annual benchmarking now covers all buildings over 15,000 sq ft. Buildings 25,000+ sq ft also need a comprehensive energy assessment every 5 years; buildings 15,000-24,999 sq ft need an assessment at time of listing; buildings under 15,000 sq ft comply via an energy assessment at time of listing; 1-4 unit residential buildings require an assessment at listing plus resilience upgrades within 2 years of sale.
- Deadline
- Jul 1, annually
- Files via
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, plus the City of Berkeley BESO filing.
- City fee
- No city fee on file.
- If you miss it
- Per the City of Berkeley fee schedule effective 7/1/2025: assessment filing fees $275 (buildings 25,000+ sq ft, every 5 years), $152 (5,000-24,999 sq ft, at point-of-listing), $79 (<5,000 sq ft, at point-of-listing); $110 deferral-to-buyer fee; $85 administrative late fee; 1-4 unit buildings: $150 compliance certificate fee and $500 energy report noncompliance fee at point-of-listing.
How to comply
Step by step
Determine whether the building is over 15,000 sq ft (annual BESO filing) or smaller (comply only at time of listing/sale).
Benchmark the building in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with a "Berkeley" Standard ID and file with the city by July 1 each year.
Schedule the comprehensive energy assessment required every 5 years (25,000+ sq ft), and budget for the applicable filing fee: $275 (25,000+ sq ft), $152 (5,000-24,999 sq ft), or $79 (under 5,000 sq ft), per the fee schedule effective 7/1/2025.
FAQ
Common questions
How does a small Berkeley building comply if it is under the 15,000 sq ft threshold?
It does not file annually; instead it completes an energy assessment and discloses the results in escrow at the time the building is sold.
Does BESO filing also cover the California AB 802 requirement?
Yes — Berkeley is on the CEC's list of exempted local benchmarking ordinances, so buildings that comply with BESO do not need to separately file with the CEC.
Want Berkeley Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) handled for you?
Run the compliance checker to confirm this program actually applies to your building, then join our early-access waitlist — we’re onboarding buildings city by city and will email you the moment we’re filing in your jurisdiction.
Check your building