How to Certify
The 2026 Criteria are suitable for new construction, substantial rehab, and moderate rehab in multifamily and in single-family homes. We provide special considerations for developments located in rural, tribal, and small-town locations. All projects must achieve compliance with the mandatory criteria measures applicable to their construction type. Outside of New York City, new construction projects must earn at least 40 points, and substantial and moderate rehab projects must achieve at least 35 optional points, to be recognized with Green Communities certification. Projects in New York City have slightly different requirements – see our NYC Overlay pages for more information.
The 2026 Green Communities Criteria and the Criteria Checklist are helpful tools to explore our program. The checklist tool allows teams to view different pathways and point configurations in real-time. The Green Communities Criteria takes a deep dive into compliance pathways and resources. Each criterion starts with a Rationale that describes the intended impact and value of implementing the strategy described. That’s followed by a Requirements section that shares how an affordable housing team can achieve the intent of the criterion. Next, Recommendations offer suggestions that go beyond the requirement for teams interested in pursuing the criterion more intensively. Finally, each criterion includes a Resources section with links to information that may be of use to teams as they consider and implement each strategy.
Certification Timeline
Certification Process Overview
Certification involves a two-step online submission and review process: Prebuild and Postbuild. Project teams submit their Prebuild application near the end of the design phase, at least 30 days prior to the start of construction. Project teams submit their Postbuild application no more than 60 days after receiving the Certificate of Occupancy.
The standard review window for all PreBuild and PostBuild applications is 30 days. After a thorough application review by the Green Communities team, project teams will either receive notice that the application has been approved to move forward, or a request for additional information and documentation. If additional information is requested, the project team should address all open comments and resubmit the application for rereview.
All application materials and communications occur within the Green Communities Certification portal.
Enterprise Green Communities does not require any credentialing to administer an application. Any member of the project team may submit a certification application by going through the required application steps and demonstrating they’ve met the mandatory requirements for their respective property through the application process in the green portal. That being said, within the criteria, there are requirements that necessitate engagement with a third-party practitioner (typically an energy rater) to ensure compliance with the project’s energy performance standard (see category 5 for details).
Engaging a Qualified Energy Rater
Project teams must engage a qualified energy rater to model and verify building performance. Engaging a qualified energy rater early in the design process is the best way to develop a cost-effective package of energy-efficiency measures, include appropriate strategies in the project’s scope of work, and meet the project’s energy goals.
Plaques
We are proud to recognize final certification to the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria with a custom plaque for each project. Plaques serve as a third-party recognition that the property was designed to, and successfully achieved compliance with, our best-in-class standard. To learn more about the plaque materials, sizes, and usage guidelines —projects certified to the 2020 Criteria can learn more here, for plaques associated with the 2026 Criteria additional information will be available this summer.