Your LL97 Extension Deadline Is August 29 — What You Still Need to File
If your building received an extension for its 2026 Local Law 97 filing, the clock is now running out.
The extended deadline is August 29, 2026. This applies to NYC building owners that requested an LL97 filing extension by June 30, 2026. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has confirmed that owners who received the extension must submit their LL97 report by August 29.
That gives building owners only a short window to finish the reporting process.
An extension does not remove the requirement to file. It simply gives you additional time to complete the report. Your building still needs the required energy data, emissions calculations, compliance information, and professional review before the filing is complete.
If your report is still sitting in draft form, now is the time to move quickly.
What Is the August 29 LL97 Deadline?
Local Law 97 requires many large buildings in New York City to report their greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrate compliance with applicable emissions limits or an alternative compliance pathway.
For the 2026 reporting cycle, the standard LL97 report deadline was May 1, with a grace period through June 30. Building owners who needed more time could request an extension through the Building Energy Analysis Manager (BEAM) Portal by June 30. The extension moves the LL97 filing deadline to August 29, 2026.
The 2026 filing reports on the building’s applicable energy and emissions information for the previous calendar year.
One important point: August 29 is not a new general LL97 deadline for every building. It applies to buildings that properly requested the 2026 extension.
If your building did not request an extension, the June 30 deadline generally applies.
What Do You Need to File Before August 29?
An LL97 filing is more than simply entering a few numbers into an online form.
The reporting process involves multiple systems and requires accurate building and energy information. In general, owners and their consultants need to coordinate information across:
- DOB NOW: Safety
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM)
- Building Energy Analysis Manager (BEAM)
DOB explains that filing fees are handled through DOB NOW: Safety, energy source information is maintained through ESPM, and the LL97 compliance report is submitted through BEAM.
Your exact filing requirements depend on your building’s LL97 compliance pathway.
1. Confirm Your Building Information
Before preparing the final report, verify the building information being used for the filing.
This includes details such as the:
- Building Identification Number (BIN)
- Borough-Block-Lot (BBL)
- Gross floor area
- Applicable LL97 compliance pathway
- Energy Star Portfolio Manager property type
- Building ownership information
DOB’s 2026 Covered Buildings List provides the city’s records for buildings required to file in 2026. However, the CBL is a reference and can be challenged when building information is incorrect.
This step is easy to overlook. A mismatch between your records and city records can create problems when you are trying to complete a filing close to the deadline.
2. Make Sure Your Energy Data Is Complete
Your LL97 emissions calculation depends heavily on the quality of your energy data.
Your reporting team should review the building’s energy use for the applicable reporting period and make sure the information in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is accurate and complete.
This can include energy from sources such as:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Steam
- Fuel oil
- Other applicable fuels
Missing utility data can delay the report. Incorrect meter information can create another problem.
For 2026, building owners must use the revised emissions-limit methodology based on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager property types. DOB states that beginning in 2026, all owners must report emissions using the ESPM property types.
That makes accurate property classification especially important for this year’s filing.
3. Complete the LL97 Emissions Calculations
Once the energy data is ready, the next step is determining the building’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and comparing them with its applicable LL97 limit.
For Article 320 buildings, the report generally needs to show whether the building is within its applicable emissions limit and, if not, the amount by which it exceeds the limit.
The calculation can become complicated for buildings with multiple uses, multiple energy sources, shared systems, or special circumstances.
DOB’s Article 320 guidance notes that an LL97 emissions report can involve calculations for gross floor area, greenhouse gas emissions, emissions limits, and applicable deductions. Most Article 320 pathways require certification by a Registered Design Professional (RDP).
This is one reason owners should not leave the technical review until the final few days.
4. Review Any Applicable Deductions or Adjustments
Your building may have circumstances that affect the final compliance calculation.
Depending on the building and its compliance strategy, the filing may involve applicable deductions, beneficial electrification, renewable energy, energy storage, offsets, or other permitted compliance mechanisms.
Some buildings may also qualify to apply for adjustments to their emissions limits because of specific circumstances. DOB states that certain adjustment applications are submitted through DOB NOW: Safety and may require supporting calculations and documentation.
However, not every building qualifies for every option.
Do not assume that an adjustment or deduction can simply be added to reduce a penalty. The eligibility requirements and documentation matter.
5. Get the Required Professional Certification
For many LL97 filings, professional certification is a critical part of the process.
Article 320 filings generally require an RDP to certify the calculations and supporting information. Depending on the compliance pathway, this may involve a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA).
Article 321 buildings have different requirements, and some pathways may involve a Registered Design Professional or Qualified Retro-Commissioning Agent.
This distinction matters because LL97 compliance is not one-size-fits-all.
A building owner should first confirm whether the property falls under Article 320 or Article 321 and then follow the applicable filing requirements.
6. Complete the Filing Fee Process
The LL97 reporting process also involves filing fees.
DOB’s current guidance states that payments for LL97 filing fees, extensions, and adjustments are submitted through DOB NOW: Safety.
If your building already requested the August 29 extension, that extension process should have been completed by June 30.
Before the final filing, make sure there are no outstanding payment or account issues that could prevent submission.
A technical problem with a DOB account is the last thing you want to discover on August 29.
7. Submit the Final Report Through BEAM
After the calculations, supporting information, and professional review are complete, the LL97 compliance report must be submitted through BEAM.
The filing is not something you should consider finished simply because the report has been prepared internally.
The submission needs to be completed in the appropriate city systems and should be checked for confirmation or filing status.
DOB identifies BEAM as the reporting platform for LL97 compliance submissions.
Keep copies of the submitted report, supporting calculations, professional certifications, utility records, and other relevant documentation for your building’s compliance records.
What Happens If You Miss August 29?
Missing the extended LL97 deadline can create significant financial exposure.
For Article 320 buildings, DOB lists the penalty for failure to submit the required emissions report as $0.50 per square foot per month. A separate penalty applies when a building exceeds its annual emissions limit, calculated at $268 per metric ton of CO2e above the applicable limit per year.
For example, a large building with a substantial floor area can quickly accumulate a meaningful late-reporting penalty.
Article 321 buildings have different penalty provisions. DOB currently lists a $10,000 penalty for failing to submit the required compliance report on time, as well as a separate $10,000 penalty for failing to demonstrate compliance through an applicable pathway.
The financial impact is only one concern.
A missed filing can also create additional administrative work, delay penalty mitigation efforts, and make it harder for owners to develop a practical compliance plan.
What Should Building Owners Do This Week?
With August 29 approaching, building owners should focus on completion rather than starting unnecessary new projects.
A practical final review should include:
- Confirm that your building received the 2026 LL97 extension.
- Verify BIN and BBL information.
- Confirm the correct LL97 compliance pathway.
- Review ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager data.
- Check energy bills and utility records for missing information.
- Confirm the applicable ESPM property type.
- Complete the emissions calculation.
- Review eligible deductions or adjustments.
- Have the required professional review completed.
- Confirm DOB NOW: Safety filing fees and account access.
- Submit the LL97 report through BEAM.
- Save the final submission and supporting records.
If any one of these steps is incomplete, the filing may not be ready.
Do Not Treat the Extension as Extra Time for Compliance Planning
There is another important distinction for building owners.
The August 29 extension gives you additional time to file the report. It does not mean that the underlying LL97 requirements have been postponed.
Your building’s emissions performance still matters.
If the 2026 report shows that the property exceeds its applicable emissions limit, the filing does not make the issue disappear. Owners should use the report as a starting point for understanding their building’s current carbon position and planning future improvements.
This is particularly important because LL97 emissions limits become more demanding over time.
A building that is close to its current limit may need a much stronger strategy for the next compliance period. HVAC upgrades, controls, lighting improvements, building envelope work, electrification, energy management, and other decarbonization measures can require significant planning and capital investment.
Waiting until the next deadline can make those projects more expensive and harder to schedule.
How a Sustainability Consultant Can Help
For owners who are still working on their August 29 filing, professional support can make the final stage much easier.
The Cotocon Group helps NYC building owners with Local Law 97 compliance, emissions reporting, energy analysis, and building decarbonization planning. Its team can help review building data, assess compliance requirements, coordinate professional certification, and identify practical strategies for reducing future emissions.
For owners who already know that their building may exceed its LL97 limit, the filing should be treated as more than a reporting exercise. It can provide valuable information for creating a longer-term LL97 compliance strategy.
You can learn more about Cotocon’s Local Law 97 compliance services and related sustainability consulting support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LL97 extension deadline in 2026?
The extended deadline for eligible buildings that requested an LL97 filing extension by June 30, 2026, is August 29, 2026.
What does the August 29 LL97 extension cover?
The extension gives eligible building owners additional time to submit their 2026 LL97 compliance report. It does not eliminate the requirement to report or comply with the applicable emissions limits.
Where is the LL97 report filed?
LL97 compliance reports are submitted through the Building Energy Analysis Manager (BEAM). DOB NOW: Safety is used for applicable filing fees, while energy data is maintained through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Do I need a professional to file LL97?
Many Article 320 filing pathways require certification by a Registered Design Professional. Article 321 requirements can differ depending on the selected compliance pathway.
What is the penalty for missing an LL97 report?
For Article 320 buildings, the DOB lists a penalty of $0.50 per square foot per month for failure to submit the required emissions report. Additional penalties may apply when emissions exceed the applicable annual limit.
The Deadline Is Close. Start With the Filing.
August 29 is not far away.
If your building received the 2026 LL97 extension, the priority should be getting the report completed, professionally reviewed where required, and submitted through the correct systems before the deadline.
Do not wait until the final day to discover missing energy data, incorrect building information, an unresolved compliance pathway, or a problem with your filing account.
And once the 2026 report is submitted, do not stop there.
Use the results to understand where your building stands today and what needs to change before future LL97 limits become more demanding. For many NYC properties, the most valuable LL97 strategy is not simply avoiding the next penalty. It is starting the right building improvements early enough to control costs, reduce emissions, and protect long-term property value.
