Lighting System Upgrades - Buildings

Buildings


Code DevelopmentNYC CodesSustainabilityReference

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (LL97)
NYC Benchmarking Law (LL84)
Energy Grading (LL33)
Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (LL87)
Lighting Upgrades & Sub-Metering (LL88)
Solar & Green Roofs (LL92 & LL94)
Building Electrification (LL154)
NYC Energy Conservation Code

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (LL97)

NYC Benchmarking Law (LL84)

Energy Grading (LL33)

Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (LL87)

Lighting Upgrades & Sub-Metering (LL88)

Solar & Green Roofs (LL92 & LL94)

Building Electrification (LL154)

NYC Energy Conservation Code


LL88: Lighting System Upgrades & Sub-metering

Local Law 88 of 2009 requires owners of certain buildings to make upgrades to lighting power allowances and controls, in accordance with the requirements of Article 310 of Chapter 3 of Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code; and to install electrical sub-meters in covered tenant spaces, in accordance with the requirements of Article 311 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the NYC Administrative Code.

Covered Buildings

As it appears in the records of the Department of Finance:

a building that exceeds 25,000 gross square feet (2323 m2)

two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet (9290 m2)

two or more buildings held in the condominium form of ownership that are governed by the same board of managers and that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet (9290 m2).

LL88 Covered Building List (pdf)
LL88 Covered Building List (excel)

Covered Tenant Spaces

A tenant space larger than 5,000 gross square feet (465 m2) on one or more floors of a covered building let or sublet to the same person
or

A floor, of a covered building, larger than 5,000 gross square feet (465 m2) consisting of tenant spaces let or sublet to two or more different persons

Exceptions

The term covered building does not include:

one-, two- or three-family homes, or real property classified as class one pursuant to subdivision one of section 1802 of the real property tax law; or

garden-style apartments, or real property, not more than three stories, consisting of a series of attached, detached or semi-detached dwellings, for which ownership and the responsibility for maintenance of the HVAC systems and hot water heating systems is held by each individual dwelling unit owner, and with no HVAC system or hot water heating system in the series serving more than two dwelling units, as certified by a registered design professional to the Department.

No lighting system upgrade is required for:

an element of a lighting system that is in compliance with the standards of the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) and/or applicable standards referenced in such Code as in effect for new systems installed on or after July 1, 2010
or

lighting power densities in any space bounded by permanent floor-to-ceiling partitions and/or closable doors that are in compliance with the standards of the NYCECC and/or applicable standards referenced in such Code as in effect for new systems installed on or after July 1, 2010.

No lighting system upgrade is required for the lighting system within dwelling units classified in occupancy group R-2 or R-3.

No lighting system upgrade is required for the lighting system within a space classified in occupancy group A-3 that is within a house of worship.

No sub-meter installation is required for a covered tenant space for which the electrical consumption within such space is measured by a meter dedicated exclusively to that space.

Requirements

Required Lighting Upgrades
No later than January 1, 2025, lighting systems in covered buildings shall be in compliance with the standards for new systems as set forth in the NYCECC, as of the date of installation. Learn more about the NYCECC.

Reports will include

Attestation of compliance, certifying that the lighting system of the entire building has been inspected and upgrades have been implemented in accordance with the law, by one of the professionals listed below.

Required Sub-meter Installation
On and after January 1, 2025, the electrical consumption of each covered tenant space shall be measured by one or more sub-meters. Tenants or subtenants within a covered tenant space that has a sub-meter(s) to measure electrical consumption shall be provided with monthly statements as outlined in the Code.

Reports will include

Attestation of compliance, certifying that electrical sub-meters have been installed for all covered tenant spaces in accordance with the law, by one of the professionals listed below.

List of all covered tenant spaces

Sample monthly statement from each tenant or sub-meter, in accordance with section 28-311.4. Note that this statement(s) will be uploaded directly into BEAM

Owners will be required to pay a $115 filing fee to submit LL88 reports by May 1, 2025. The $115 filing fee includes both lighting and submetering compliance reports. For buildings that are filing LL97 reports in 2025, there is no additional filing fee for LL88 reports.
Report submission for LL88 compliance will occur in the BEAM platform.

Who can do this work?

Lighting upgrades and sub-meter installations must be certified to the Department by a registered design professional or a licensed master or special electrician certifying that such upgrade/installation has been completed and that the work is in compliance with the technical standards of the NYCECC.

Helpful Links

Local Law 88 of 2019

Local Law 88 FAQs