Local Law 97 Deadline And Year End Inspection Reminders

New York City building owners face several major compliance deadlines as the calendar year closes. This guide summarizes the Local Law 97 deadline, related Local Law 88 reporting, and the year end inspection reports required by the Department of Buildings. Where technical guidance must be verified with an authoritative source, notes are provided.

Local Law 97 Deadline Approaches

Owners of covered buildings have until December 31 to submit their calendar year 2024 Local Law 97 emissions reports. DOB has reported that most of the approximately 23,000 covered buildings have already submitted information or are actively working through compliance, but outstanding owners must finalize their filings before year end.

What Local Law 97 Requires

Local Law 97, part of the NYC Climate Mobilization Act, establishes annual building emissions limits beginning in 2024. Owners must calculate whole-building greenhouse gas emissions and compare them to the allowable annual limit for their occupancy and size.

Pathways for Compliance

Owners must submit annual emissions data for the prior calendar year, certified by a registered design professional. If a building exceeds its emissions limit, owners must choose and document a compliance pathway such as:

• Capital improvements that lower energy consumption

• Electrification or partial electrification strategies

• Efficiency upgrades and envelope improvements

Local Law 88 Lighting and Sub-metering Deadline

The Local Law 88 lighting system upgrade and tenant sub-metering report is also due December 31 for applicable buildings.

What Local Law 88 Requires

Local Law 88 requires:

1. Lighting upgrades to meet the lighting requirements of the NYC Energy Conservation Code for certain buildings and spaces.

2. Tenant sub-metering for commercial tenant spaces over a specified size threshold.

Owners must complete upgrades or document compliance and submit the required reporting through the DOB portal.

Year End Inspection Report Requirements

Several periodic inspection reports also carry a December 31 submission deadline. These requirements apply to specific building systems and are enforced through DOB rules. Failure to submit or correct deficiencies leads to violations and civil penalties.

Below is a summary of key inspection categories.

Inspection Type	Summary of Requirement	Deadline
Elevator Inspection Reports	Annual and periodic inspections must be performed by qualified elevator professionals, with reports submitted to DOB.	December 31 for certain filing cycles.
Boiler Inspection Reports	Most buildings with low-pressure or high-pressure boilers must complete annual inspections and submit reports to DOB.	December 31 for specific boilers depending on the inspection cycle.
Parking Structure Inspections	Parking structures require periodic condition assessments by a Qualified Parking Structure Inspector, including documentation of structural conditions and needed repairs.	December 31 for designated sub-cycle groups.
Retaining Wall Inspections	Retaining walls that meet height and exposure criteria must undergo condition assessments and file reports with DOB.	December 31 for the current reporting cycle.
Gas Piping System Inspections	Buildings subject to interior gas piping inspection requirements must complete inspections and submit reports per the DOB timeline.	December 31 for designated groups under the rule.

BUILT Engineers Can Help

BUILT Engineers assists building owners, managers, and co-op and condo boards throughout NYC with LL97 reporting, LL88 lighting compliance. Our team provides:

• Local Law 97 emissions calculations and reporting

• LL88 lighting and sub-metering assessments

• Support with DOB filings and correction of open violations

• Guidance on efficient, cost-effective compliance pathways

Stakeholders facing the Local Law 97 deadline or year end inspection reports can contact BUILT to prepare, verify, and submit required documentation. We help owners remain compliant while planning long-term improvements that reduce energy use, improve reliability, and support responsible building operations.