LOCAL LAW 88
Almost every building in NYC will need to comply. Get the breakdown of LL88.
Contents:
What is Local Law 88?
Local Law 88 (LL88) requires building owners whose property is listed on the LL88 Covered Building List to upgrade their lighting systems to be compliant with the New York City Energy Conservation Code. This often involves upgrading to more efficient lighting systems, including installing controls and/or LEDs that comply with light power density requirements.
In addition, LL88 mandates the installation of electrical submeters for certain commercial tenant spaces to monitor energy use.
What is the Compliance Deadline?
The annual LL88 submission deadline is May 1st.
Our team of experts—who have advised on city-wide regulations—anticipate stricter energy codes in 2026, which will likely increase compliance costs and complexity. Upgrading now under the current standards is the most affordable and straightforward option.
What Is the LL88 Compliance Process?
To comply, the Department of Buildings (DOB) requires buildings to ensure all required LED lighting, controls, and sub-meters are installed, and to gather and submit supporting documentation, including:
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- A lighting & controls attestation signed by a Professional Engineer.
- A sub-metering attestation signed by a Professional Engineer, along with:
- A list of covered tenant spaces and their sub-meter numbers.
- A recent electric utility statement for each sub-metered tenant space.
Lastly, buildings must pay the filing fee, if applicable, and submit documentation to the DOB.
Important: Compliance documentation is submitted once—no annual resubmissions are required. Failure to comply by the deadline will result in annual fines.
Are Rebates Available?
Yes, but only for a limited time! While most of Con Edison’s rebate programs no longer offer incentives for lighting upgrades, the Instant Lighting Program (ILP) still provides rebates through October 2025 before being discontinued. This program incentivizes eligible products such as bulbs, tubes, fixtures, and sensors when purchased through a Participating Contractor like EN-POWER GROUP. To check your building’s eligibility for ILIP incentives, contact our team at lighting@enpg.com.
What Happens if You Don’t Comply?
For every building that fails to submit compliance documentation to the DOB by June 30th each year, may will face
annual penalties, including:
- $1,500 per Building Identification Number (BIN) for missing lighting controls compliance documentation
- $1,500 per BIN for missing sub-metering compliance documentation
- $500 per missing sub-meter
However, extensions may be available, which extend the submission deadline to August 29th each year. Contact our lighting team to determine whether your property is eligible.
What if You’ve Already Upgraded?
Starting or completing a lighting upgrade is a significant step! However, a Professional Engineer must confirm compliance before your building’s LL88 submission. Consider:
- Did your upgrade(s) meet LL88’s light power density, controls, and sub-metering requirements?
- Do you have documentation (invoices or contracts) proving the work was completed?
- Have you gathered the required list of commercial tenant spaces, meter numbers, and recent utility statements (if applicable)?
- Has a Professional Engineer verified and signed off on compliance?
Custom Solutions For Your Building's Complex Energy Needs
To support New York City’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025, Municipal Courts have enacted local laws that impose significant financial.
