Avoid Daily BERDO & BEUDO Fines with This Q2 2025 Compliance Guide
If your property isn’t compliant by Q2, Boston and Cambridge won’t hesitate to penalize you – every single day. That’s not an exaggeration. Under Boston’s BERDO 2.0 and Cambridge’s BEUDO ordinances, daily fines for non-compliance can reach up to $200 per day, per building. As enforcement ramps up this summer, missing a single deadline could trigger a cascade of costly penalties. With mid-year reporting requirements now in full effect, property owners and managers need to act fast to stay on the right side of the law.
We’ll break down the Q2 deadlines, enforcement trends, and compliance steps to help you avoid fines and stay focused on operations. Whether you manage a commercial office near Kendall Square or a residential tower in Back Bay, we’ll explain what’s due, who’s watching, and how to stay compliant heading into the second half of 2025. Let’s dig into the must-know updates – and how to keep your property penalty-free this summer.
What’s Due in Q2—and What Happens If You Miss It
Boston and Cambridge aren’t waiting for Q4 to start enforcing compliance. By June 15, properties subject to BERDO 2.0 or BEUDO must have submitted required benchmarking data – or face escalating daily fines.
Key Q2 Requirements
Boston (BERDO 2.0)
- Benchmarking Deadline: June 15, 2025
- Applies To: Buildings over 20,000 sq. ft. or with 15+ units
- Data Required: Full calendar year 2024 energy and water usage
Cambridge (BEUDO)
- Benchmarking Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Applies To: Non-residential buildings over 25,000 sq. ft.
- Data Required: Calendar year 2024 energy consumption
Miss a deadline or submit incorrect data, and you could face daily fines of $150 to $300—per building. These penalties stack fast and can’t be reversed later.
How Enforcement Is Playing Out This Summer
Both cities have shifted from outreach to enforcement. Staff from the City of Boston’s Environment Department and Cambridge’s Community Development Department are now reviewing submissions, flagging errors, and issuing non-compliance notices within days of a missed deadline.
Common Enforcement Triggers
- Missing utility data
- Incorrect property type categorization
- Late submissions, even by a single day
- Failure to respond to data quality inquiries
Once flagged, property owners have limited time to resolve issues without halting fines. In most cases, appeals won’t pause the penalty clock.
What Property Owners Need to Do Now
To stay compliant and avoid penalties, act on these three steps before mid-June:
- Audit Your Utility Data
Ensure all meters are linked correctly and that you’re pulling complete 2024 data. Missing even a single month can invalidate your submission.
- Confirm Portfolio Manager Setup
Double-check your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager settings. Many violations stem from errors in property use details, gross floor area, or tenant space configurations.
- Submit Early and Verify
Submit at least two weeks before the deadline to catch data issues. Cities often reject filings with inconsistencies or duplicate records.
Stay Ahead or Pay the Price
If you own or manage property in Boston or Cambridge, this summer’s not the time to fall behind. With daily penalties of up to $200 per building, staying compliant with BERDO 2.0 and BEUDO isn’t just smart—it’s urgent. This post unpacked the critical Q2 deadlines, from June 15 for Boston to June 30 for Cambridge, along with what needs to be reported, how cities are enforcing the rules, and the exact steps you need to take to stay penalty-free.
The window to act is closing fast. By auditing your utility data, verifying your Portfolio Manager setup, and submitting early, you’ll avoid the daily fine grind that’s already hitting late filers. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t wait for a violation notice to show up. Book a call with our Benchmarking team today, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to stay compliant and stress-free this summer.
VertPro.com offers tools and services to help property owners and managers improve building energy efficiency and meet regulatory standards. Whether you’re looking for instant pricing on energy audits, need support with benchmark compliance, or want to explore available building upgrade options, VertPro® provides user-friendly technology solutions to simplify the process. Their platform helps ensure adherence to over 60 Energy Benchmarking and Efficiency Laws across the country.
