Local Law 88 Compliance

Why NYC Local Law 88 Is Important for Building Owners

Lighting accounts for a significant portion of energy use in New York City buildings. Older lighting systems waste electricity, increase operating costs, and contribute to higher emissions.

Local Law 88 helps building owners:

• Reduce long-term energy expenses
• Improve building performance
• Increase asset value
• Prepare for stricter future regulations
• Avoid recurring DOB penalties

When combined with other NYC Local Laws, LL88 plays a critical role:

• Local Law 84 focuses on benchmarking
• Local Law 87 requires audits and retro-commissioning
• Local Law 97 sets carbon emission limits

LL88 fills the gap by forcing energy-saving upgrades that directly support compliance with all of them.

Who Must Comply With Local Law 88 NYC?

Local Law 88 applies to the following building types:

Residential Buildings

• Residential buildings with common areas over 25,000 square feet
• Includes lobbies, hallways, stairwells, garages, and shared spaces

Commercial / Non-Residential Buildings

• Buildings with total floor area exceeding 25,000 square feet
• Offices, retail, hotels, healthcare, warehouses, and mixed-use properties

Multiple Buildings on One Property

• Two or more buildings on the same tax lot
• Combined area exceeding 100,000 square feet

Condos and Co-ops

• Buildings with the same ownership or board
• Combined square footage thresholds apply

Buildings Exempt From LL88

• One-, two-, and three-family homes
• Garden-style apartments (three stories or less with decentralized HVAC)

Lighting Upgrade Requirements Under Local Law 88

All covered buildings must upgrade lighting systems to meet NYC Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) standards.

What Lighting Must Be Upgraded?

• Incandescent fixtures
• T12 and older fluorescent systems
• Halogen and metal halide fixtures
• Inefficient emergency and common-area lighting

Required Lighting Improvements

• High-efficiency LED lighting
• Occupancy sensors
• Timers and scheduling controls
• Daylight-responsive controls
• Proper lighting power density compliance

Typical Energy Savings

• Incandescent → LED: up to 83%
• T12 fluorescent → LED: up to 50%
• Metal halide → LED with controls: 60–80%

Lighting upgrades often deliver net positive ROI, where energy savings offset installation costs over time.

Submetering Law Compliance Consulting

Local Law 88 NYC requires electrical sub-metering for:

• Non-residential tenant spaces
• Each tenant space larger than 5,000 square feet

What Is Electrical Submetering?

Submetering measures electricity usage at the individual tenant level instead of building-wide usage. Each tenant receives accurate data for their own energy consumption.

Submetering Requirements

• Installation of electrical sub-meters
• Monthly energy usage statements to tenants
• Accurate tracking and reporting systems
• Documentation submitted to DOB

Benefits of Submetering

• Transparent energy billing
• Reduced energy waste
• Better tenant accountability
• Improved building energy management

Our submetering law compliance consulting ensures proper system design, installation, and reporting.

Local Law 88 Compliance Process

Step 1: Building Assessment

• Verify square footage thresholds
• Review existing lighting systems
• Analyze tenant spaces
• Identify compliance gaps

Step 2: Compliance Strategy

• Lighting upgrade design
• Submetering system planning
• Cost and schedule optimization

Step 3: Installation & Upgrades

• LED lighting retrofit
• Control system integration
• Electrical sub-meter installation

Step 4: Testing & Documentation

• System verification
• Energy code compliance checks
• DOB filing preparation

Step 5: Filing & Certification

• Compliance documentation submission
• Certificate of Completion
• Ongoing compliance support

Local Law 88 Compliance Checklist

Pre-Compliance

• Building eligibility confirmed
• Lighting inventory completed
• Tenant space measurements verified

Lighting Compliance

• NYCECC-compliant fixtures installed
• Controls operational and tested
• Energy efficiency documentation prepared

Submetering Compliance

• Sub-meters installed where required
• Monthly reporting system active
• Tenant notifications completed

Filing & Records

• DOB filings submitted
• Compliance records maintained
• Audit-ready documentation stored

Why Choose The Cotocon Group for LL88 Compliance?

The Cotocon Group provides trusted local law 88 compliance consulting services throughout New York City.

What We Offer

• Engineering and code expertise
• End-to-end LL88 compliance management
• Lighting retrofit planning
• Submetering system design and coordination
• DOB filings and approvals
• Post-compliance monitoring and support

Our team delivers practical, cost-effective, and future-ready local law 88 compliance consulting solutions for commercial and residential buildings.