// NYC Local Law Compliance
Local Law 88 — lighting upgrades & sub-metering.
What is Local Law 88?
Local Law 88 carries two mandates for large buildings: upgrade lighting in non-residential and common-area spaces to meet the current NYC Energy Conservation Code, and install electrical sub-meters in large tenant spaces so tenants receive a monthly statement of their usage.
The lighting deadline of January 1, 2025 has passed and the law is in active enforcement — with a final May 1, 2026 date for owners who received a DOB extension. Late or missing filings accrue penalties every year until they're resolved.
$1,500
per year for a missing lighting or sub-meter report — plus $500 per covered tenant space that still lacks a required sub-meter.
25,000+
gross sq ft covered
5,000+
sq ft tenant spaces sub-metered
// Who is covered
Which buildings and spaces are covered?
Buildings over 25,000 gross square feet — or grouped buildings that together exceed 100,000 sq ft.
Lighting: all non-residential spaces and the common areas of residential buildings must meet the current NYC Energy Conservation Code.
Sub-metering: tenant spaces over 5,000 sq ft must be sub-metered with a monthly statement to the tenant. Spaces on a dedicated Con Edison meter are exempt.
// What it requires
Two mandates: lighting and metering
Energy-Code lighting
Upgrade fixtures and controls in covered spaces to the standard for new systems under the NYC Energy Conservation Code.
Tenant sub-metering
Install electrical sub-meters for each covered tenant space so their consumption is measured separately.
Monthly statements
Provide each sub-metered tenant a monthly statement of their electrical usage.
Compliance filings
File the lighting and sub-meter compliance reports with the Department of Buildings.
// Deadlines & penalties
The lighting deadline has passed — enforcement is active
Deadlines
Lighting upgrades and sub-meters were due January 1, 2025 (reports by May 1, 2025); owners with a DOB extension must finish by May 1, 2026.
$1,500 per year
Failing to file the lighting report — or the sub-meter report — carries a $1,500 annual penalty until it's filed.
$500 per space
If a report is filed but sub-meters aren't installed in every covered space, the penalty is $500 per space still missing one.
// How we help
How Eastern Engineering brings you into LL88 compliance
- 01Audit your lighting and design upgrades that meet the NYC Energy Conservation Code.
- 02Design the sub-metering system and coordinate installation across covered tenant spaces.
- 03Prepare and file your LL88 lighting and sub-meter compliance reports with DOB, with sample tenant statements.
- 04Fold the lighting and metering savings into your building's broader Local Law 97 carbon strategy.
// The full slate