In 2019, the Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) was signed into law. The law was expanded in 2022 and 2023 to extend the requirements of the standards to a new set of buildings. The goal of the CBPS is to reduce costs and pollution from fossil fuel use in the state's existing buildings, multifamily homes, and campus district energy systems. The law also offers incentives to encourage building owners to make energy-saving improvements sooner than required.

Who Must Comply?

All covered commercial buildings must comply with the CBPS. The CBPS applies differently, depending on the size of the covered building. There are Tier 1 and Tier 2 covered buildings.

• Tier 1 covered building (formerly known as covered commercial building): a building where the sum of nonresidential, hotel, motel and dormitory floor areas exceeds 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.

• Tier 2 covered building: a building where the sum of multifamily residential, nonresidential, hotel, motel, and dormitory floor areas exceeds 20,000 gross square feet, but does not exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area. Tier 2 covered buildings also include multifamily residential buildings where floor areas are equal to or exceed 50,000 gross square feet, excluding the parking garage area.

Compliance Deadlines

Tier 1 covered buildings reporting schedule:

• June 1, 2026 - More than 220,000 sq. ft.
  June 1, 2027 - More than 90,000 sq. ft. but less than 220,001 sq. ft
  June 1, 2028 - More than 50,000 sq. ft. but less than 90,001 sq. ft

Tier 2 covered buildings reporting schedule:

• July 1, 2027 - More than 20,000 sq. ft. but less than 50,001 sq. ft. and All Multifamily residential buildings more than 20,000 sq. ft.

How to Comply

Building owners and their teams can visit the Tier 1 and Tier 2 compliance pages to find out the basic steps needed to start the process.

• CBPS Tier 1 compliance
• CBPS Tier 2 compliance

Clean Buildings Portal

The Clean Buildings Portal is where Tier 1 covered buildings are listed. It gives owners a secure way to handle and submit their building’s compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard. Right now, the Portal is accepting Exemption applications for the first group of Tier 1 covered buildings larger than 220,000 square feet, Early Compliance applications for all Tier 1 buildings, and applications for the Early Adopter Incentive Program. To learn more about how to use the portal please see the Clean Buildings Portal User Guide.

Please note: Tier 2 covered buildings are scheduled to be identified in the Portal by 2025. Features for Tier 2 are not yet available.

Early Adopter Incentive Program

The Early Adopter Incentive Program is available to qualified building owners interested in early compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard. 

Need Help?

Call Washington Department of Commerce: 360-725-3105

Or submit questions and request support online using the CBPS Customer Support Form.