Berkeley BESO

Berkeley BESO

For questions about the BESO Ordinance for Commercial Buildings (only) Talk to Chuck at 415-937-5046

Berkeley’s Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) requires building owners and homeowners to complete and publicly report comprehensive energy assessments to uncover energy savings opportunities.

BESO compliance is required on a phased-in schedule. The timing, frequency and specific type of energy assessment required depends on the type and size of building. The schedule is shown below:

Building Size	Report Required	Frequency
Buildings 50,000 sf or more	Energy Assessment Benchmark Report	5 years Annually
Buildings 25,000-49,000 sf	Energy Assessment Benchmark Report	5 years Annually
Buildings 15,000-24,999 sf	Energy Assessment Benchmark Report	Time of Listing for Sale Annually

The Energy Assessment for a house or building under 25,000 square feet is now due only at the time of sale

Filing fees range from $79 to $250 based on building size:

415-937-5046 BESO Energy Assessment Schedule and Fees

Building Size	Filing Frequency	Filing Fee
Houses (1-4 Dwelling Units)	At time-of-listing for sale	$79
Small Buildings (850-14,999 sq. ft.)	At time-of-listing for sale	$79
Medium Buildings (15,000 to 24,999 sq. ft)	At time-of-listing for sale	$152
Large Buildings (25,000+)	Every 5 years	$240

Certain exceptions, deferrals and extensions may apply, including an exemption from the energy assessment if the building achieves a ENERGY STAR score of 80 or more. For more additional exceptions, visit our BESO FAQ.

For more information about Berkeley's reporting requirements, call Chuck at 415-937-5046 or visit our BESO FAQ.