San Francisco, CA · Overview
San Francisco Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance
San Francisco requires annual energy benchmarking for nonresidential buildings 10,000 sq ft and larger, plus a comprehensive energy audit every 5 years, submitted via an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager data request to SF Environment. San Francisco is one of the CEC-exempt local ordinances, so covered buildings satisfy state AB 802 through this local filing instead of a separate CEC submission.
Verified against primary sources
Filing deadline
May 1
Annually, for the prior calendar year
- City fee
- No city fee on file.
- Files via
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager — you respond to the jurisdiction’s data request.
Filing facts
What the registry knows
- Who’s covered
- Commercial buildings 10,000 sq ft or larger. Per SF Environment's FAQ, multifamily buildings 50,000 sq ft or larger with 17+ residential utility accounts fall under BOTH the SF EBO and AB 802; mixed-use 50,000+ buildings with 16 or fewer residential accounts and 50,000+ buildings with residential condo units fall under the SF EBO. In all cases a single annual benchmark report to SF Environment satisfies both laws.
- Deadline
- May 1, annually
- Files via
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager — you respond to the jurisdiction’s data request.
- City fee
- No city fee on file.
- If you miss it
- Fines for buildings 50,000 sq ft and larger of $100/day of non-compliance, up to 25 days.
How to comply
Step by step
Confirm the building is nonresidential and 10,000 sq ft or larger (multifamily instead falls under state AB 802 at the 50,000 sq ft threshold).
Benchmark the building in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with a "San Francisco" Standard ID and respond to SF Environment's data request before May 1.
For buildings 50,000 sq ft and larger, schedule the required ASHRAE Level I or II energy audit on its 5-year cycle to avoid the $100/day fine exposure.
FAQ
Common questions
Do San Francisco multifamily buildings need to file this ordinance?
No — the local Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance only covers nonresidential buildings; multifamily buildings 50,000 sq ft or larger instead report directly under the state AB 802 program.
What is the audit requirement layered on top of annual benchmarking?
Buildings must complete an ASHRAE Level I or II energy audit (the level depends on building size) once every 5 years, in addition to filing annual benchmarking data every year.
Want San Francisco Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance 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