Chicago, IL · Reviewed November 2026

Chicago benchmarking compliance, filed for you

Chicago Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance requires covered buildings in Chicago to report energy use every year. We gather the data, check it, and file it — usually within a week.

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Who’s covered

Commercial, residential and municipal buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more.

Annual deadline

June 1 for the previous calendar year.

Verification

Data verification by a licensed professional once every three years, using the Portfolio Manager data verification checklist.

Penalties

Up to $100 for a first violation plus up to $25 for each day it continues.

What to report

All energy used by the whole building — including tenant spaces — for January 1 to December 31:

Electricity — every meter serving the building
Natural gas
District steam, hot or chilled water, if you have it
Delivered fuels (oil, diesel, propane) — all delivery receipts for the year
On-site solar production, if any

Leave out backup generator fuel. Note any meters added or removed during the year.

Good to know

Buildings receive a 0–4 star Chicago Energy Rating that must be posted in a visible spot.
Exemptions exist for low occupancy, financial distress, new construction and ownership changes during the year.

What we’ll need from you

Building address, plus any utility service addresses that differ from it
Gross floor area for the whole building and each use (office, retail, residential…), number of units and year built
Your Chicago Building ID (we can look it up)
Utility data for the full calendar year, January 1 – December 31 (usually 13 months of bills)
If tenants pay their own utilities: whole-building (aggregated) data from the utility, or signed tenant authorization forms
Access to your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account, if you have one
Any notice or letter you received from the city

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FAQ

Chicago benchmarking questions

When is the Chicago benchmarking deadline?

Reports are normally due June 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year’s energy use.

Does Chicago benchmarking apply to my building?

Commercial, residential and municipal buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more. Exemptions are limited — if you’re not sure, send us the address and we’ll check.

What happens if I miss it?

Up to $100 for a first violation plus up to $25 for each day it continues. If you’ve already missed the deadline, we can usually get you filed quickly and help you respond to any notice.

Is third-party verification required?

Data verification by a licensed professional once every three years, using the Portfolio Manager data verification checklist. We provide verification in-house.

Official program information: Chicago benchmarking website. Requirements change — we confirm current rules for every filing.

Let us handle your Chicago benchmarking filing

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