Quick answer · as of
I got a Clean Buildings Tier 2 letter from Commerce. What now?
The letter means Commerce has your building on its Tier 2 list, so it must file an energy benchmark, an Energy Management Plan and an Operations and Maintenance program by July 1, 2027. Commerce mailed Tier 2 notification letters on July 1, 2025, each with a one-time code for its Clean Buildings Portal (Portal user guide, August 2026). Filing early pays: the state's incentive is up to $0.30 per square foot, up to $9,000 on a 30,000 sq ft building, while a building that never files can be fined the same $0.30 per square foot.
Washington Clean Buildings Tier 2, explained in 60 seconds · 1:05 · Transcript
Did you get a letter from the state about Clean Buildings? Most owners did, in July 2025.
It means your building falls under Washington's Clean Buildings law. That's called Tier 2.
It covers commercial buildings over 20,000 and up to 50,000 square feet, and apartment buildings over 20,000.
By July 1, 2027, you have to file an energy benchmark and two plans with the state Department of Commerce.
Miss it, and the fine can reach 30 cents per square foot.
File early, and the state pays you that same 30 cents. That's up to 9,000 dollars on a 30,000 square foot building.
As of November 2026, only about one in thirteen buildings has filed.
Tier Two Partners files it all for you, usually in two to four weeks.
Check yours today. Get a free quote, or book a call with us to learn more, at tiertwopartners.com.
Is the letter real?
A real Tier 2 letter comes from the Washington State Department of Commerce and gives you a unique 10-character notification code and instructions for a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account. Commerce warns that other letters, robocalls and mailers about Clean Buildings look official but aren't from Commerce (Commerce). If you're unsure, email buildings@commerce.wa.gov. How to tell them apart: How to spot a misleading Clean Buildings notice
What is the code in the letter for?
It unlocks your building in the Clean Buildings Portal the first time you sign in. The code is tied to your building ownership and your organization, and it works only once (CBPS 026). To use it:
- Create a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account, the state's sign-in service.
- In SAW, click My Services, then Add Service, choose Add With Code, and add the Clean Buildings Portal.
- When the Portal asks for a notification code, choose the building-owner option and enter the 10-character code from your letter.
Lost the letter, or never got one? On that same screen, click Request Notification Letter. Commerce's rule is that each person who signs keeps their own Portal account; shared logins aren't allowed for signers (Portal user guide).
How do I check the building in the letter is really mine?
Sign in, open the building, and confirm or correct what Commerce has on file. Commerce built its list from county assessor records, so it can be wrong (RCW 19.27A.210).
- Confirm ownership: on the Building Details page, set Ownership Status to Ownership Confirmed and click Save.
- Fix the size if it's wrong: update the gross floor area on the same page. Tier 2 covers more than 20,000 and up to 50,000 sq ft of commercial space, not counting parking, and apartment buildings over 20,000 sq ft at any size (RCW 19.27A.200(26)). Annex Y, section Y2.1 lets an owner notified in error document the right size or use (WAC 194-50-160).
- Claim your other buildings: the Tier 2 Data Pool tab lists buildings Commerce thinks you may own. Check the box, pick your organization and confirm. If a listed building isn't yours, deny ownership.
- Can't find a building? Try other spellings (Street or St, North or N), then open a Portal & Data Correction ticket from Need Help?
Not sure your building is Tier 2 at all? Step by step, with mixed-use examples: Does Tier 2 apply to my building?
What happens if I ignore the letter?
You miss the incentive, and after July 1, 2027 Commerce can fine the building up to $0.30 per square foot. Commerce first sends a notice of violation with at least 30 days to file, and if the owner still doesn't file it assesses the penalty, which can repeat every five-year cycle (WAC 194-50-160, Annex Y, Y5). The incentive comes from a $150 million fund that pays in the order applications arrive (RCW 19.27A.230), with over $138 million left as of September 24, 2026 (Commerce). Every month an owner waits, other buildings go ahead in line.
| 30,000 sq ft building | Money in | Money out |
|---|---|---|
| File with Tier Two Partners | up to $9,000 incentive | $4,500 all in |
| Ignore the letter | $0 | up to $9,000 fine |
What's the fastest way to get the building filed?
Hand the letter to Tier Two Partners: your part takes about 10 minutes, and we do the rest. You add the building, connect your utility account, answer a few questions and sign once. We pull 12 months of energy data, build the benchmark, Energy Management Plan and Operations and Maintenance program, have a Qualified Energy Manager review and sign, and file your compliance and your incentive application together, typically 2 to 4 weeks after your information is in (EST.). In the Portal, you grant us shared access to the building from its Shared Access tab, so we never need your password (CBPS 026).
Our price is $0.15 per eligible square foot for one building, down to $0.10 for 20 or more, with the Qualified Energy Manager included: one fee, no separate QEM bill. Every provider's fee, ours included, is owed whether or not the incentive is paid, because the fee pays for the filing itself. What the filing contains, form by form: What Tier 2 owners must file by July 1, 2027