San Francisco Existing Buildings Ordinance
Implemented in 2011, the City of San Francisco’s Existing Buildings Ordinance (EBO) is California's granddaddy of benchmarking ordinances. It applies only to energy. It does not require water benchmarking. It applies to existing commercial buildings with 10,000 square feet or more and multi-family buildings with 50,000 square feet or more of heated or cooled space.
Pegasus is Your Trusted Partner for EBO “Compliance”
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Pegasus is Your Trusted Partner for EBO “Compliance” 〰️
Ensure seamless San Francisco EBO compliance for your properties with Pegasus. We proactively explore “Beyond Benchmarking” requirements, seeking exemptions to save you time and money. Should an audit be necessary, our team delivers a clear, ROI-focused report.
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The EBO Ordinance
The San Francisco Existing Buildings Ordinance requires owners of commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet of gross floor area and multi-family buildings (including condominiums) over 50,000 square feet to conduct an annual energy benchmark report and file it by May 1st. Submitting one annual benchmark report to San Francisco satisfies both the SF and California AB 802 ordinances.
Energy Benchmark Report - Due Annually
The building owner must report the total energy the building uses using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager website. The annual energy benchmark report must be submitted to the San Francisco Department of the Environment through the Portfolio Manager by May 1st of each year.
Energy Audits - Due Every 5 Years*
The owner of a non-residential building must ensure the building receives an energy audit by an architect or licensed engineer every five years. The audit offers the building owner a detailed list of specific opportunities for saving energy and money.
Commercial buildings 10,000 - 49,999 square feet require an ASHRAE Level I audit
Commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet require an ASHRAE Level II audit
*Exemptions from the audit are available for buildings that obtained ENERGY STAR certification three of the five years prior to the audit year.
San Francisco EBO FAQs
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It depends. If you do qualify for an exemption, you will need to scroll to the end of the exemption section and follow the “apply for exemption” instructions. To find out if you may qualify for an exemption, please see the information below.
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In cases where a building has been sold, and it is absolutely impossible to obtain complete energy use data for a year due to the sale, the Department of Environment will accept a statement of inability to comply in lieu of a benchmark report for the year of the transaction and the years prior to the transaction. Apply for an exemption.
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When a tenant that purchases energy directly from the utility moves out, the owner may have no mechanism whatsoever to obtain energy use data from the utility. Under such circumstances, the owner may apply for a one-year exemption from the benchmarking requirement. Apply for an exemption.
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If your facility averaged less than 1 person on-site during the building’s typical operating hours over the prior calendar year, the ordinance does not apply, and benchmarking is not required. Apply for an exemption.
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No. Buildings that demonstrate excellent energy performance are still required to benchmark annually under San Francisco’s Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance.
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Yes. If your facility is smaller than 10,000 square feet, the ordinance does not apply, and benchmarking is not required. Apply for an exemption.
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Yes. If your facility does not have at least 10,000 square feet of conditioned space, the ordinance does not apply, and benchmarking is not required. Apply for an exemption.
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If your facility averaged less than 1 person on-site during the building’s typical operating hours over the prior calendar year, the ordinance does not apply, and neither benchmarking nor audits are required. Apply for an exemption.
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If your facility has written approval from a city agency to be demolished (or for the site to be developed in a manner that necessitates demolition), neither benchmarking nor audits are required.
If a new commercial building larger than 10,000 square feet is constructed, the Existing Commercial Buildings ordinance requires benchmarking to resume within 24 months of the Department of Building Inspection's issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy (or equivalent). Apply for an exemption.
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Yes. If there are residential units on site, the ordinance does not apply and benchmarking is not required. Apply for an exemption.
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Yes. If there are residential units on site, the ordinance does not apply, and benchmarking is not required. Apply for an exemption.
Benchmarking or Beyond —
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🟦 Benchmarking
Annual compliance for AB 802, EBEWE, BPO, and other ordinances.
🟩 Beyond Benchmarking
Audits, exemptions, retro-commissioning, and ENERGY STAR certification.