Short answer: Inside Texas, Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance (City Code Ch. 6-7) stands alone as an active, enforceable municipal building law across the state’s commercial, multifamily, and residential stock. Served directly through municipally owned Austin Energy, ECAD splits into three enforceable tracks: annual June 1 commercial benchmarking down to >=10,000 sq ft, repeating 10-year multifamily audits (>=5 units) with High-Energy-Use (HEU) retrofit duties, and pre-sale residential audit disclosures.
Noncompliance carries Class C misdemeanor fines from $500 to $2,000 per violation. Meanwhile, Texas commercial operators holding assets in Houston or Dallas encounter no statewide building mandate — keeping Houston separate (`EXCL-TX-HOUSTON`: excluded from verified live statutory coverage) while centering Texas compliance strictly on Austin Energy accounts.
- Commercial Track (>=10,000 sq ft — June 1 Annual): Covers offices, retail, medical, and industrial facilities receiving Austin Energy service (regardless of whether within Travis/Williamson County boundaries) via Austin Energy’s automated EUI portal.
- Multifamily Track (>=5 Units — 10-Year Audits + HEU): Apartment owners commission certified ECAD audits every 10 years, post notice to tenants, and — if flagged as a High-Energy-Use facility (>150% average multifamily EUI) — must reduce energy consumption by 20% under city audit supervision.
- Single-Family Sale Disclosure: Homes 10+ years old inside Austin Energy service territory require an ECAD audit delivered to buyers before closing.
Download the Austin ECAD Three-Track Reference
Clearing Commercial June 1 Filings & Multifamily High-Energy-Use (HEU) Triggers
Many Texas commercial owners overlook ECAD because its trigger relies on Austin Energy service territory rather than strict City of Austin municipal tax lines — and starts all the way down at 10,000 sq ft. Meanwhile, apartment investors acquiring 1980s-vintage garden apartments (>=5 units) in Austin face real capital exposure if a 10-year audit flags High-Energy-Use (HEU) status above 150% peer EUI, triggering statutory weatherization, duct sealing, and HVAC/lighting upgrades (often co-funded through Austin Energy multifamily rebates).
- Verify Utility Provider Map First: Confirm whether a suburban Cedar Park / Round Rock / Travis parcel takes power from Austin Energy (ECAD applies) vs. Oncor/PEC (no ECAD).
- Audit Acquisition Diligence: Pull existing 10-year multifamily ECAD certificates and any open HEU compliance orders prior to closing apartment trades.
| ECAD Track (Ch. 6-7) | Threshold & Territory | Deadline / Cadence | Mandate & Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Benchmarking | >=10,000 sf (Austin Energy svc) | Annual June 1 | Automated EUI reporting ($500–$2k Class C) |
| Multifamily Audits + HEU | >=5 units (Austin Energy svc) | Every 10 yrs (May/June schedule) | Certified audit + 20% cut if HEU (>150% avg) |
| Single-Family Sale | Homes >=10 yrs old | Prior to transfer of title | Point-of-sale ECAD audit disclosure to buyer |
Compliance Execution Checklist
| Step | Owner / Team | Auditable Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Austin Energy Service Check | Asset / Diligence | Confirm >=10k commercial or >=5 unit MF sits on Austin Energy electric meters. |
| 2. June 1 Commercial Rating | Property Ops | Submit automated Austin Energy EUI calculation via city portal before June 1. |
| 3. Multifamily 10-Yr / HEU | Engineering / Mgmt | Schedule certified 10-yr ECAD audit and evaluate AE rebates if near HEU cutoff. |
Keep This Austin, TX Compliance Checklist Handy
Frequently Asked Questions
What commercial buildings are subject to Austin's ECAD Ordinance?
Under Austin City Code Ch. 6-7, commercial buildings >=10,000 sq ft served by Austin Energy must calculate and disclose annual energy ratings by June 1 — even if located in unincorporated or neighboring areas served by Austin Energy.
What happens if an Austin apartment property fails an ECAD audit as High-Energy-Use?
Multifamily properties (>=5 units) determined to consume more than 150% of the average Austin multifamily EUI on their 10-year audit must execute qualifying energy upgrades lowering use by 20% under Austin Energy oversight.
Primary Authorities & Official Resources
Informational notice: This guide summarizes enacted statutes, regulations, or pending legislative records from the primary authorities linked above as of November 14, 2026. It is not legal, accounting, or licensed engineering advice.