MARYLAND BEPS + MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEP

Expert Compliance Strategies for Maryland Buildings

Navigate Compliance for State and County Regulations

As of 2025, Maryland’s energy regulations have shifted. A new statewide standard (MD BEPS) now works alongside—and often overlaps with—the local ordinance in Montgomery County. Sheehan Engineering simplifies this complexity. We provide turnkey energy benchmarking and verification services that satisfy both jurisdictional requirements in a single, unified process.
⚠ New 2026 Verification Requirement

Starting in 2026, self-reported data is no longer sufficient. Energy data must be verified by a credentialed third-party (PE or CEM) before submission.

Sheehan Engineering is an engineering firm qualified to perform these verifications for both the state and county programs.

The Universal Requirement

Annual Energy Benchmarking

Regardless of your jurisdiction, all covered buildings must submit an annual benchmarking report via EnergyStar Portfolio Manager. This establishes your energy baseline and determines your future BEPS targets.

Submission Deadline June 1 (Annually)
Location: Montgomery County

County Ordinance

Threshold: 25,000+ sq. ft. Buildings in MoCo are exempt from State filing but must report directly to the County.
  • ⚖️
    Enforcement: $500/day fines actively issued for non-compliance.
  • 🔍
    Verification: Required starting with CY2025 reports.
  • 💻
MoCo Performance Targets

Group 1-4 Deadlines

Targets are based on your Historical Baseline. Failure to meet targets requires a Building Performance Improvement Plan (BPIP).

  • Group 1: Commercial >250k sf
  • Group 2: Commercial 50k-250k sf
  • Group 3: Commercial 25k-50k sf
  • Group 4: Multifamily >250k sf & Others
Group 1 & 2:Active Cycle
Group 3:Baseline Est. 2024
Group 4:Baseline Est. 2025
View Commercial Energy Audits →
Location: Rest of Maryland

Statewide MD BEPS

Threshold: 35,000+ sq. ft. Report directly to Maryland Dept. of the Environment (MDE).
  • ⚖️
    Enforcement: Civil penalties apply for failure to report.
  • 🔍
    Verification: Required starting in 2026.
  • 💻
    Platform: MD BEPS Portal
State Performance Targets

The Path to Net Zero

State targets are Fixed EUI Standards that increase in stringency every 5 years until resolving at a final performance standard (Net Zero) in 2040.

Interim Target:2030
Interim Target:2035
Final Standard:2040

Sheehan Engineering | Your Unified Maryland Compliance Partner

Navigating the complex overlap between Maryland’s statewide BEPS and Montgomery County’s local ordinance requires precision. Don't risk compliance gaps with a generalist.

As national experts in energy compliance, Sheehan Engineering turns regulatory burdens into financial opportunities. We don't just help you measure your building’s performance—we help you monetize it through efficiency and increased asset value.

Why Choose Us? We are a licensed Professional Engineering firm fully qualified to Benchmark and Verify data for both jurisdictions.

Partner with a dedicated expert who leverages national experience to maximize your local ROI. One vendor. Total compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clarifying the overlap between Montgomery County ordinances, Statewide MD BEPS regulations, and our fee structure.

Generally, no. Recent legislation (HB 6) has streamlined this process. If your building is located in Montgomery County and you are compliant with the County's benchmarking law, you are exempt from reporting separately to the State (MDE). Your data is shared automatically between jurisdictions to prevent double-work.
We offer transparent, flat-rate pricing for standard commercial buildings:

1. Full Compliance Bundle (Recommended):
Includes annual data collection, Portfolio Manager updates, AND the required Professional Engineer (PE) Verification stamp.
Fee: Starting at $795 per building.

2. Third-Party Verification Only:
For clients who manage their own data but require a PE license to sign off on the submission.
Fee: Starting at $500 per building.

3. Standard Benchmarking (Non-Verification Years):
For initial setup or maintenance years where a PE stamp is not required.
Fee: Starting at $450 per building.
It depends entirely on your location:

If in Montgomery County: You must report to the County. Their threshold is stricter (25,000 sq. ft. and up).

If elsewhere in Maryland: You do not need to report. The State (MDE) threshold currently begins at 35,000 sq. ft., so a 30,000 sq. ft. building outside of Montgomery County is exempt from statewide benchmarking requirements.
Yes, but criteria differ by jurisdiction and exemptions are not automatic—you must file for them.

Montgomery County Exemptions:
  • Buildings with < 50% occupancy (Annual Waiver).
  • Financial distress (tax lien, foreclosure, etc.).
  • New construction (Certificate of Occupancy received in reporting year).
  • Demolition scheduled.
  • Majority (>50%) of floor area used for manufacturing, public assembly without walls, or warehousing may qualify.
Statewide (MDE) Exemptions:
  • Designated Historic Buildings.
  • Manufacturing or Agricultural buildings.
  • Federal buildings.
Note: If you believe you qualify, contact us immediately. We can file the exemption paperwork on your behalf to prevent fines.
Starting in 2026 (for CY2025 data), you cannot simply self-report your energy usage. Both State and County laws will require your data to be reviewed and signed off by a recognized professional (like a Professional Engineer or CEM) to ensure accuracy.

Sheehan Engineering is fully licensed to provide this required verification stamp for your property.
No. Both jurisdictions have aligned their annual reporting deadline to June 1st. However, we highly recommend starting the process in March or April. This gives us ample time to correct any utility data errors in Portfolio Manager before the submission portal closes.

Contact us.

Call, text, or email us below! Fill out the form and we’ll contact you in less than a day.

kevin@sheehan-eng.com
(773) 312-2898