Prepare for Washington Tier 2 by July 1, 2027.

Use this guide for orientation, then verify your building, records, and reporting requirements with the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Ask for free helpOpen the official Commerce page

Start with building use and gross floor area.

BuildingLikely trackFirst due date
Combined multifamily, nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory area over 20,000 through 50,000 sq ftTier 2July 1, 2027
Multifamily residential building at or above 50,000 sq ftTier 2July 1, 2027
Nonresidential, hotel, motel, or dormitory building over 50,000 sq ftCheck Tier 1Size-based schedule

Commerce excludes parking-garage area from the Tier 2 threshold. Federal buildings and buildings owned by federally recognized tribes are not required to comply. Mixed-use, connected, campus, condominium, industrial, agricultural, exemption, and incorrect-record situations need a building-specific review. A notification letter is useful, but Commerce remains the authority on coverage and corrections.

Tier 2 has three core readiness requirements.

Benchmark energy use

Measure and track building energy use over time. This normally requires a complete meter and fuel inventory, reliable consumption data, correct activity and floor-area information, and a sound ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager record.

Implement an O&M program

Document the building's systems, equipment, recurring maintenance tasks, responsibilities, and operating practices. Commerce provides an optional O&M Program Development Tool.

Create an energy management plan

Set out goals, responsible roles, energy history, EUI and target information, and the procedures used to manage performance. Commerce provides an optional EMP template.

Commerce says Tier 2 buildings must identify an energy-use intensity target, but they are not currently required to meet a performance metric. Owners still must document and report the required benchmarking, O&M, and energy-management work by July 1, 2027 and every five years afterward.

Commerce also states that Tier 2 compliance requires a qualified energy manager. ASF's free service helps owners prepare records, questions, and an organized handoff; ASF does not claim that credential or replace the owner, Commerce, or a qualified professional.

Build an owner-ready record before reporting.

  1. 1

    Confirm the building record

    Gather ownership, address, Washington Building ID or notification letter, parcel information, gross floor area, parking area, and current building uses. Use Commerce's data support route when the state record is incorrect.

  2. 2

    Establish Portal access

    Create or confirm the owner's Secure Access Washington account and Clean Buildings Portal access. Shared access must be granted by the owner; ASF does not claim or control a building without authorization.

  3. 3

    Map every meter and fuel

    List electric, gas, thermal energy, delivered fuels, onsite generation, tenant meters, utility account holders, and missing periods. Resolve data gaps before trusting the benchmark.

  4. 4

    Validate benchmarking inputs

    Review building activity types, floor area, hours, occupancy, and meter associations in Portfolio Manager. Record the calculated EUI and the applicable target rather than estimating from memory.

  5. 5

    Document O&M and energy management

    Use the current integrated standard and Commerce tools to assign owners, schedules, goals, equipment tasks, and review dates. Templates are optional; the underlying requirements are not.

  6. 6

    Prepare the reporting package

    Check the current Portal guide, forms, exemptions, extensions, signatures, and attachments. Send building-specific determinations to Commerce and credentialed work to an appropriately qualified professional.

Early action may qualify for a state incentive.

Commerce reports that the Tier 2 Early Adopter Incentive Program has $150 million allocated and accepts compliance and incentive applications through July 1, 2027. The base calculation is $0.30 per eligible square foot. Qualifying multifamily owners who sign the required anti-displacement agreement may be eligible for an enhanced amount up to $0.75 per square foot or the cost of compliance, whichever is lower.

An incentive is not guaranteed. Commerce reviews applications; participating utilities make payments on a first-come, first-served basis; utility participation, available tax credits, eligible area, costs, and current program terms affect the result. Verify the live guide before spending money or relying on an award.

Review the official Tier 2 incentive page

Use current Commerce instructions for decisions and reporting.

Commerce Tier 2 complianceCoverage, requirements, deadline, tools, and reporting sequenceClean Buildings PortalOwner access, notification codes, building records, corrections, and applicationsCBPS Document LibraryCurrent integrated-standard access, Tier 2 guidance, Portal guide, EMP template, and O&M toolCommerce support and office hoursOfficial technical assistance, roles, office hours, and customer support routeTier 2 Early Adopter IncentiveCurrent availability, guidebook, participating utilities, rates, and application termsRulemaking and training updatesFinal-rule notices, workshops, training, and future changes

This page is educational and may not reflect a later rule, guidance update, incentive balance, or building-specific Commerce determination. A Sustainable Future is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Commerce. This is not legal, engineering, audit, certification, or guaranteed compliance advice. Official requirements and Commerce decisions control.