Quick answer · as of
How many Tier 2 buildings have filed so far?
About 1,313 of Washington's 17,398 Tier 2 buildings were compliant as of October 15, 2026: roughly 7.5%. That leaves about 16,100 buildings still to file before the July 1, 2027 deadline (EST., because the two counts are from different dates). The 1,313 comes from Commerce's Clean Buildings data team, which read it from its applications dashboard for us by email on October 15, 2026. The 17,398 is Commerce's count of Tier 2 covered buildings as of September 30, 2025 (CBPS Annual Legislative Report, June 2026).
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.
What are the key Tier 2 numbers right now?
Here are Commerce's latest published figures, each with its date:
| Tier 2 figure | Number | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 2 covered buildings | 17,398 (first list: 17,871) | Sep 30, 2025 | June 2026 legislative report |
| Tier 2 buildings compliant | 1,313 | Oct 15, 2026 | Commerce data team, by email |
| Still to file | about 16,100 (EST.) | Oct 2026 | 17,398 minus 1,313; the two counts are from different dates |
| Incentive fund | $150 million | current | Commerce |
| Incentives awarded | nearly $11.8 million | Sep 24, 2026 | Commerce |
| Paid out by utilities | over $6 million | Sep 24, 2026 | Commerce |
| Left in the fund | over $138 million | Sep 24, 2026 | Commerce |
| Incentive rate | $0.30 per eligible sq ft | current | Commerce |
| Compliance deadline | July 1, 2027 | current | Commerce |
How fast are Tier 2 owners filing?
The counts have climbed fast. Commerce's June 2026 report to the Legislature listed 70 Tier 2 buildings as compliant or pre-approved for exemption (Table 2; the table gives no count date, and the report's covered-building figures are as of September 30, 2025). On October 15, 2026, Commerce's count was 1,313. The money tells the same story:
| Date | Tier 2 incentives | Source |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2025 | about $1.66 million expected from applications received; 19 incentives approved for payment | Early Adopter Incentive report, March 2026 |
| December 2025 | $349,607 reserved, for 18 buildings | same report |
| September 24, 2026 | nearly $11.8 million awarded, over $6 million paid | Commerce |
Commerce expects about 15,000 Tier 2 incentive applications by the July 2027 deadline (March 2026 report).
Is there enough incentive money for every Tier 2 building?
Not necessarily, which is why the order you file in matters. Commerce estimates Tier 2 awards at $6,000 to $15,000 per building, depending on size (March 2026 report). At that range, the $138 million left would cover somewhere between about 9,200 and 23,000 more buildings (EST.), while about 16,100 are still to file. The fund pays first come, first served, so buildings that file early are paid first. State law opens incentive applications through June 1, 2030 (RCW 19.27A.220), but the money can run out before then. Current fund status: Is Tier 2 incentive money still available?
Does the incentive cover the cost of compliance?
For most buildings, yes, by Commerce's own reading. Commerce told the Legislature that "early applications indicate that 30 cents per square foot is covering the full cost of compliance for most buildings" (March 2026 report, p. 9). On a 30,000 sq ft building the incentive is up to $9,000. Price comparisons: How much does Tier 2 compliance cost?
How did Tier 1 buildings do with their first deadline?
Most of the largest buildings hadn't finished months before their deadline. Commerce's June 2026 report shows 131 of 1,380 Tier 1 buildings over 220,000 sq ft compliant or pre-approved for exemption, with their deadline in June 2026 (Table 2). Big buildings with engineering staff still left it late. Tier 2 is following the same pattern, with about 7.5% filed and eight months to go. Filing early gets you paid sooner.
What happens to buildings that don't file?
They miss the incentive and can be fined up to $0.30 per square foot, the same as the incentive, after Commerce sends a notice of violation and the owner doesn't file within the time it allows (WAC 194-50-160, Annex Y, section Y5). What to do if a notice arrives: Missed the Tier 2 deadline or got a notice of violation?. The law itself: Washington Clean Buildings Tier 2 law, explained.
How does Tier Two Partners get your building counted?
We file your compliance and your incentive application together, so your building joins the 1,313 and gets in line for the fund. We build the benchmark, Energy Management Plan and Operations and Maintenance program from your bills and service records, a Qualified Energy Manager reviews and signs, and we submit in the Clean Buildings Portal. Our fee is $0.15 per eligible square foot for one building, down to $0.10 at 20 or more, with the Qualified Energy Manager included: no separate QEM fee. Every provider's fee, ours included, is owed whether or not the utility pays the incentive, because the fee pays for the filing itself.