What Are the NYC Building Energy Grade Deadlines for 2026?
The energy grade posting requirement is connected to annual benchmarking, so there are several dates worth understanding.
| Date |
What Happens |
| May 1, 2026 |
Covered buildings were required to complete annual energy and water benchmarking under Local Law 84. |
| October 1, 2026 |
DOB makes the 2026 Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label available for download. |
| October 31, 2026 |
Final deadline to properly display the 2026 label. |
| October 1, 2027 |
The 2026 label is replaced with the newly issued annual label, where required. |
The key date for the energy grade itself is October 31, 2026. Do not confuse the October 1 release date with the final posting deadline.
If you need help with the requirement itself, Energo provides Local Law 33 compliance support for NYC buildings, including assistance related to benchmarking and energy grade posting.
Which NYC Buildings Have to Post an Energy Grade?
Local Law 33 of 2018, as amended by Local Law 95 of 2019, requires covered NYC buildings to publicly disclose their annual energy efficiency score and grade.
DOB says the requirement applies to owners of properties listed on the City’s Covered Buildings List for benchmarking compliance. Many covered properties are buildings over 25,000 gross square feet, but building configuration, use, ownership, and other factors can affect coverage. Property owners should verify their building against the current Covered Buildings List rather than relying on square footage alone.
If you are not sure where your property fits, Energo’s guide to which NYC building energy laws apply to your building explains how Local Laws 84, 87, 88, and 97 fit into the broader compliance picture.
Where Do You Get the 2026 NYC Building Energy Grade?
The City does not automatically mail the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label to building owners.
Beginning October 1, an owner or owner’s representative must retrieve the label through the DOB NOW Public Portal. DOB instructs users to search for the property using its Borough, Block, and Lot information, or BBL, and then access the applicable Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label for downloading and printing.
Building owners can review the NYC Department of Buildings Local Law 33 energy grading guidance for the City’s current requirements and instructions.
DOB also advises owners to contact the Department before October 31 if the building generated an ENERGY STAR score but the label cannot be accessed through DOB NOW.
Where Does the NYC Energy Grade Have to Be Posted?
Downloading the label is only part of compliance. It also has to be displayed correctly.
DOB requires the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label to be displayed in a conspicuous location near each public entrance to the building. The label may be posted inside or outside, but it needs to remain visible to the public.
For 2026, building owners should make sure the label:
- Is displayed near each required public entrance
- Is positioned between four and six feet above the ground or floor
- Is clearly visible and is not hidden, damaged, or obscured
- Remains displayed throughout the year
- Is replaced with the newest label when the next annual label is issued
Buildings with more than one public entrance may therefore need multiple copies. DOB allows owners to print as many copies of the label as necessary.
Service entrances and loading dock entrances generally do not count as public entrances for this requirement. An entrance that is restricted but still available for public use may still qualify as a public entrance and require posting. DOB also provides specific guidance for properties with multiple buildings, campuses, and certain retail entrances.
Does an F Energy Grade Still Have to Be Posted?
Yes.
An F does not remove the posting requirement. DOB states that a building that failed to submit required benchmarking information will receive an F grade, and that F label must still be displayed within the required posting period.
This is one reason annual Local Law 84 benchmarking compliance matters beyond the May 1 filing deadline. The benchmarking information submitted under Local Law 84 is used to generate the building’s energy efficiency score and grade.
If the underlying benchmarking submission is missed, the problem does not disappear in October. It becomes publicly visible through the required F label.
Does an N Energy Grade Have to Be Posted?
No.
DOB states that properties that are not eligible for an ENERGY STAR score may receive an N grade, and buildings with an N grade are not subject to the energy-grade posting requirement.
An N grade can apply in certain situations where a building is exempt from benchmarking or its property type does not qualify under the ENERGY STAR scoring system.
Because exemptions and eligibility can depend on the individual property, owners should confirm their status rather than assuming that the absence of a typical letter grade means nothing needs to be done.
What Happens If You Miss the October 31, 2026 Deadline?
Failing to display the required Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label by the deadline can result in a DOB violation and a $1,250 fine per violation.
That makes this more than a paperwork deadline. By October 31, the correct label needs to be downloaded and properly displayed at the applicable entrances.
If DOB issues an energy-grade violation that an owner believes is incorrect, the Department provides a process for challenging the violation. DOB says a challenge generally must be submitted within 30 days of the Notice of Violation postmark and may require documentation showing that the label was properly displayed or that another applicable exception existed.
Did NYC Extend the Energy Grade Deadline in 2026?
No.
This distinction matters because some building owners may remember a different schedule from last year.
In 2025, NYC issued special extensions affecting sustainability-law deadlines, including the energy-grade posting deadline. DOB has expressly stated that those extensions do not apply in filing year 2026.
For 2026, owners covered by Local Law 33 must follow the standard schedule: the label becomes available October 1 and must be posted no later than October 31, 2026.
You can review DOB’s 2026 sustainability compliance deadline notice for the City’s current filing and posting schedule.
If someone on your building team is working from last year’s compliance calendar, now is the time to update it.
How Does Local Law 84 Affect Your Building Energy Grade?
Local Law 84 and the energy-grade requirement are separate obligations, but they are directly connected.
Local Law 84 requires covered buildings to benchmark their annual energy and water consumption. That information is submitted through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and provides the underlying data used for the City’s annual energy grading process.
Local Law 84 measures and reports the building’s energy performance. Local Law 33 makes the resulting score and grade public.
That is why building owners should think about energy-grade compliance long before October. Accurate benchmarking in the spring helps establish the data that ultimately appears in the annual grading process.
What Should NYC Building Owners Do Before October 31?
If your property is subject to Local Law 33, do not wait until the last day of October to find out whether your label is available or where it needs to go.
Confirm that your property is covered, make sure the correct label is available through DOB NOW beginning October 1, and identify every public entrance where a label may need to be displayed. For multi-building properties or buildings with unusual entrance configurations, review DOB’s guidance before posting.
It is also smart to keep documentation showing that the label was posted. If a violation is issued incorrectly, photographic proof of proper display is one type of documentation DOB specifically identifies as potentially relevant to a challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 NYC Building Energy Grade Deadline
Is the 2026 NYC energy grade due October 1 or October 31?
The label becomes available on October 1, 2026, but covered building owners have until October 31, 2026 to properly display it.
Do I have to post the energy grade at every entrance?
The label must be posted near each public entrance to the building. Service entrances and loading docks generally do not require a label.
Will NYC mail my building’s energy grade?
No. The owner or owner’s representative must obtain the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label through the DOB NOW Public Portal.
Does an F grade have to be displayed?
Yes. A building that receives an F because required benchmarking information was not submitted must still post the F label.
Does an N grade have to be displayed?
No. DOB states that buildings receiving an N grade are not subject to the posting requirement.
What is the fine for not posting the NYC building energy grade?
DOB states that failure to display the required label by the deadline can result in a violation and a $1,250 fine per violation.
Stay Ahead of the October 31 NYC Energy Grade Deadline
For NYC building owners and property managers, the 2026 deadline is straightforward: the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label becomes available October 1 and must be properly posted no later than October 31, 2026.
The harder part is making sure the benchmarking, building information, label, and posting requirements are all correct.
Energo helps property managers and building owners across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and throughout New York City navigate Local Law 84 benchmarking, building energy grades, and the City’s broader building energy compliance requirements.
If you need help confirming your building’s requirements or preparing for the October 31 deadline, contact Energo’s compliance team.
Call 888.378.9898 or contact Energo today.
When Does the NYC Building Energy Grade Need to Be Posted in 2026?
If your New York City building is subject to the City’s energy grading requirements, the 2026 Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label must be posted no later than October 31, 2026.
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