Limits since 2025
Non-residential buildings of 35,000 square feet and larger, and residential buildings with 35 or more units.
Boston Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance
Boston BERDO: is your building under its emissions limit?
BERDO covers non-residential buildings of 20,000 square feet and larger and residential buildings with 15 or more units. Larger buildings have had emissions limits since 2025; smaller ones start in 2030. Over the limit, a building pays $234 per metric ton of CO2e in alternative compliance payments or faces fines of up to $1,000 a day.
Who is covered and when limits start
Emissions limits fall every five years until they reach zero in 2050.
Limits from 2030
Non-residential buildings of 20,000 to 35,000 square feet, and residential buildings with 15 to 34 units.
Reporting for all
Every covered building reports energy and water use by May 15 each year, with third-party verified data in verification years.
How we help
Lower emissions first, then the paperwork that keeps the building in compliance.
Emissions gap check
Your reported emissions against the limit for your property type, and what each ton over costs in alternative compliance payments.
Retro-commissioning
Controls, schedules, setpoints and sequences tuned and verified device by device. Usually the fastest and least costly way to cut energy use and emissions.
CommissioningDecarbonization roadmap
Energy modeling of electrification, envelope and system options in energy, cost and carbon, timed against each compliance period.
Energy modelingFlexibility measures
The data and engineering behind a Building Portfolio, an Individual Compliance Schedule or a Hardship Compliance Plan.
Third-party verification
We prepare the energy and water data and coordinate the verification with an approved, independent verifier, so the verification stays independent.
Measures or payments
A side-by-side of the cost of each measure against the payments it avoids over the compliance period.
How a BERDO engagement runs
From the first check to the annual filing.
Week 1
Gap check
Reported emissions, limit, verification year and the size of the gap.
Weeks 2 to 6
Field work
Retro-commissioning and quick measures, verified device by device.
Next
Roadmap
Electrification and system options modeled against the 2030 and 2035 limits.
By May 1
Flexibility
Portfolio, schedule or hardship request prepared, if the building needs one.
By May 15
Filing
Energy and water data reported, with verification coordinated.
On site within 48 hours in Massachusetts
One team for Boston, Cambridge and the rest of the Commonwealth
We are on site in Boston within 48 hours of the first call, and the same engineers cover Cambridge BEUDO and code-required commissioning.
BERDO questions
What does it cost to be over the limit?
Alternative compliance payments are $234 per metric ton of CO2e above the limit. Fines for exceeding the standard run up to $1,000 a day for larger buildings, so most owners compare measures against payments.
Do you do the third-party verification?
We prepare the data and coordinate the verification with an independent verifier, so the verification stays independent of the engineering work.
Does retro-commissioning lower BERDO emissions?
Yes. Every unit of gas, oil or electricity saved lowers reported emissions, and retro-commissioning is usually the fastest and least costly first step.
Can several buildings comply together?
Owners can apply for a Building Portfolio, and buildings can request an Individual Compliance Schedule or a hardship plan. For 2026 emissions, these requests are due May 1, 2027.
Is our building in the 2025 or 2030 group?
Non-residential buildings of 35,000 square feet and larger and residential buildings with 35 or more units have had limits since 2025. Smaller covered buildings start in 2030.
Book a 15-minute BERDO check
Tell us the building. We reply within one business day and can be on site in Boston within 48 hours.
Prefer to talk? +1 (646) 296-8091 or [email protected]
From the City of Boston BERDO pages, ordinance summary and 2026 webinars as of November 2026. BERDO regulations are being updated; confirm your building's requirements with the City of Boston.