The first major Maryland BEPS compliance cycle has now moved from preparation to follow-up.
For many building owners, the focus before June 30, 2026 was simply getting something submitted: benchmarking data, an exemption request, or the required reporting fee. But now that the deadline has passed, the more important question is this:
Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards apply generally to covered buildings 35,000 square feet and larger. The program requires annual benchmarking and reporting to the Maryland Department of the Environment, and over time it connects that data to building performance standards for energy use and direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Maryland Energy Administration explains that owners and operators of buildings 35,000 square feet and larger need to report and share building energy use and emissions with MDE annually.
For the 2026 cycle, MDE extended the timely filing window so that benchmarking reports and exemption requests submitted by June 30, 2026 would be treated as timely. A recent BEPS update also noted that the 2026 reporting fee was $100 per building and that building owners needed to pay the fee and submit a third-party verified benchmarking report by June 30, 2026 to be considered timely.
Now, the issue is no longer only the deadline. The issue is whether your building’s BEPS record is clean, accurate, and defensible.
The Maryland BEPS Portal is not just a lookup tool. It is where owners can search for their building, identify the Unique Building ID, review building information, view building dashboards, submit forms, and check status information. MDE’s live portal explains that owners can use the portal to search for buildings, find the Unique Building ID, and access the building dashboard where forms can be submitted.
This means your building may now show a status that needs attention. Some owners may see terms such as:
These statuses are not just administrative labels. They may indicate whether MDE has received the required filing, whether a payment is still outstanding, whether an exemption request is being reviewed, or whether a building still needs action.
A June 2026 BEPS update specifically explained that a “No Submission” status appears when neither a benchmarking report nor an exemption request has been received for that building’s 2026 requirements.
One of the most important things building owners should understand is that a portal issue does not always mean no one tried to comply.
A “No Submission” or unresolved status can sometimes happen because of process issues, such as:
That is why owners should not treat the BEPS Portal as a minor detail. The portal is now one of the best places to confirm whether the building’s compliance record matches what ownership believes has already been done.
The Unique Building ID, or UBID, is central to Maryland BEPS compliance.
The MDE BEPS Portal explains that a UBID is used to identify the building and must be entered into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking. The portal also states that building information shown there is an estimate and should be verified, especially location, address, square footage, and primary use type.
This is where many issues can begin.
A building owner may know the street address. A property manager may know the tax parcel. A facility team may know the meters. But Maryland BEPS depends heavily on whether the correct building footprint and UBID are being used.
If the wrong UBID is used, the building may appear incomplete even if someone entered energy data somewhere else.
The annual reporting fee has received attention because it is easy to understand. For 2026, the BEPS reporting fee was identified as $100 per building.
But the fee itself is not the difficult part.
The real compliance burden is making sure the building’s annual benchmarking data is accurate, third-party verified when required, properly shared, and tied to the right UBID.
Paying a fee does not fix bad data. Paying a fee does not correct the wrong square footage. Paying a fee does not resolve an incorrect building use type. Paying a fee does not confirm that the benchmarking report was properly submitted to MDE.
That is why owners should review both sides of the compliance record: the reporting status and the fee status.
If your building shows a status such as “No Submission,” “Unpaid,” or “Past Due,” waiting may only make the problem harder to unwind.
A missed or inaccurate submission may create issues with:
This is especially important because Maryland BEPS is not simply a one-year reporting exercise. Annual benchmarking creates the foundation for understanding how the building performs and what may be needed before future performance standards become more pressing.
Owners and managers should start with a simple but careful review.
First, search for the building in the Maryland BEPS Portal. Confirm the UBID, building address, building footprint, square footage, primary use type, status, and fee status.
Second, confirm whether the building’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager profile uses the correct UBID and whether the report was properly shared with MDE.
Third, confirm whether the required reporting fee was paid and attached to the correct building.
Fourth, confirm whether the building required third-party verification for the 2026 reporting cycle. MEA states that buildings covered by the State BEPS need to submit proof of third-party verification to MDE on June 1, 2026 and every five years thereafter.
Finally, confirm whether an exemption request was needed, filed, waived, under review, or incomplete.
The June 30, 2026 Maryland BEPS deadline may have passed, but the compliance work is not over.
For many owners, the next step is not panic. It is verification.
If the answer is unclear, the building may still need attention.
The Cotocon Group helps building owners and property managers review Maryland BEPS compliance from the building level up. We can help confirm the UBID, review the MDE BEPS Portal status, check ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup, identify missing data, review fee and submission status, and provide a clear next-step compliance roadmap.
If your Maryland building shows “No Submission,” “Unpaid,” “Past Due,” or another unclear BEPS status, now is the time to review it before the issue becomes harder to correct.
The Cotocon Group can review your building’s UBID, benchmarking status, fee status, and next steps.
Contact Us TodayA “No Submission” status generally means MDE has not received a benchmarking report or exemption request for that building’s 2026 BEPS requirements.
A UBID is a Unique Building ID used to identify a building footprint for Maryland BEPS. MDE says the UBID should be entered into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for benchmarking.
For the 2026 cycle, MDE stated that benchmarking reports and exemption requests submitted by June 30, 2026 would be treated as timely.
No. The fee is only one part of the process. Building owners also need accurate benchmarking data, proper UBID use, correct sharing with MDE, and third-party verification when required.
The Cotocon Group can help building owners review BEPS portal status, UBID issues, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup, benchmarking data, third-party verification needs, and next compliance steps.