Everything You Need To Know About Compliance
If your building in Boston or Cambridge isn’t compliant by the end of Q2 2025, you could start racking up daily fines of up to $200 per building, and those penalties add up quickly.
Under Boston’s BERDO 2.0 (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance) and Cambridge’s BEUDO (Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance), the cities have moved past education and into strict enforcement. With June benchmarking deadlines now active, commercial property owners and managers must act fast to avoid financial hits and reputational risk.
Whether you oversee a residential high-rise in Back Bay or a tech office near Kendall Square, this guide will walk you through the Q2 compliance deadlines, what’s being enforced, and exactly what steps to take before the penalties start rolling in.
Q2 Compliance Deadlines: What’s Due And When
Both cities require large buildings to submit benchmarking data on energy and water use by specific dates in Q2. Missing the window, even by a day, can trigger daily fines that continue until your data is accepted and verified.
Key 2025 Benchmarking Deadlines:
1. Boston (BERDO 2.0):
Deadline: June 15, 2025
Who It Applies To: Buildings over 20,000 sq ft or with 15+ residential units
Data Required: Full 2024 calendar year of energy and water usage
2. Cambridge (BEUDO):
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Who It Applies To: Non-residential buildings over 25,000 sq ft
Data Required: Energy consumption for the full 2024 calendar year
If you miss the submission deadline, or submit incomplete or incorrect data, you could face fines ranging from $150 to $300 per building, per day. These penalties are assessed daily and are not retroactively waived, even if corrections are submitted later.
Enforcement Is Here And It’s Aggressive
In the past, both cities focused on outreach and education. That’s changed.
As of 2025, enforcement teams in both Boston’s Environment Department and Cambridge’s Community Development Department are actively reviewing benchmarking submissions. They’re checking for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness, and they’re issuing non-compliance notices within days of a missed or flawed filing.
Errors that are triggering enforcement actions include missing utility data, inaccurate building classifications, incorrect gross floor area entries, and delays in responding to requests for clarification. Once flagged, properties are placed on an enforcement track where fines begin accruing daily, and appeals typically do not pause the fine schedule.
3 Critical Steps To Avoid Penalties Before The Deadline
To keep your buildings compliant and fine-free this summer, take these three actions now, ideally well before the June deadlines:
1. Audit Your Utility Data
Ensure you have complete energy and water usage data for calendar year 2024. That includes verifying that all utility meters are properly linked and that no billing months are missing. Even a single gap in data can result in your submission being rejected or flagged for review.
2. Check Your Portfolio Manager Setup
One of the most common sources of penalties is incorrect configuration in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Double-check property use types, square footage, occupancy levels, and tenant space details. A seemingly minor error, like misclassifying a mixed-use space, can trigger data validation issues and potential violations.
3. Submit Early, Then Verify Confirmation
Don’t wait until the deadline to file. Submit your data at least two weeks in advance, giving you time to correct any issues flagged by the city’s data quality tools. Confirm receipt and acceptance to ensure your building isn’t silently slipping into noncompliance.
Why Early Action Matters More Than Ever
The enforcement environment in Boston and Cambridge is no longer forgiving. Submitting a day late can result in hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in daily fines that accumulate until full compliance is achieved.
For example, a portfolio of five buildings that misses the June 15 BERDO deadline by 10 days could be looking at $10,000 or more in fines, depending on the building types and circumstances. Worse, enforcement notices may come with public exposure risks, brand reputation concerns, and scrutiny from environmentally conscious tenants or investors.
Taking action in Q2 means you maintain control, over timing, budget, and outcomes.
Don’t Wait For A Violation Notice Get Ahead Of Compliance Now
If you’re managing properties in Boston or Cambridge, you’re operating in one of the most regulated urban energy environments in the U.S. But you’re not on your own.
At VertPro®, we help commercial property owners and managers navigate compliance with complex city ordinances like BERDO and BEUDO through easy-to-use tools and expert guidance. Our services cover:
Utility data auditing and reconciliation
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup and validation
- Timely benchmarking submissions
- Penalty avoidance strategies and appeals support
Our platform is designed for property professionals who want to simplify compliance and avoid unnecessary stress, fines, and errors.
Time Is Running Out Stay Compliant, Stay Fine-Free
The Q2 deadlines for BERDO and BEUDO are fixed and non-negotiable. If your building data isn’t submitted correctly and on time, the cities will issue daily fines, and they won’t be lenient.
This summer, staying compliant is more than a checkbox; it’s a financial safeguard and a sign of operational excellence. You now know the deadlines: June 15 for Boston, June 30 for Cambridge. You know what’s required: complete, accurate benchmarking data for calendar year 2024. And you know how cities are enforcing the rules: with precision, urgency, and escalating penalties.
👉 Book a free compliance consultation with our Benchmarking team today. We’ll review your building portfolio, ensure everything is aligned, and handle your submission from start to finish.
👉 Visit VertPro.com to explore our full suite of compliance tools, access instant pricing, and get your properties ready for Q2 reporting.
Don’t let a missed deadline cost you thousands. Stay ahead, stay compliant—and enjoy a stress-free summer.
