# Midwest City Building Compliance: Madison BESP, Indianapolis Ch. 604 & Des Moines

> Canonical URL: https://bcesg.org/madison-besp-indianapolis-thriving-buildings-des-moines-guide/
> Jurisdiction: Madison, WI · Indianapolis, IN · Des Moines, IA | Status: Live (Madison >=25k + 4-Yr Tune-Up · Indy >=50k June 1 · Des Moines >=25k No-Fine) | Reviewed: 2026-11-14

**Short answer:** Across Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa — three states with zero statewide private building laws — regional landlords manage distinct local programs across three state capitals: [Madison BESP (MGO § 29.40)](https://www.cityofmadison.com/sustainability/energy/buildings/building-energy-savings-program), [Indianapolis Thriving Buildings (Ch. 604)](https://www.indy.gov/activity/thriving-buildings-energy-benchmarking), and [Des Moines Energy & Water Benchmarking](https://www.dsm.city/departments/city_manager/facilities/energy_benchmarking.php).

The operational outlier is Madison: starting at **>=25,000 sq ft commercial** (now at full 2026+ phased reach), Madison pairs annual benchmarking with mandatory repeating **4-year HVAC/building tune-ups** — whereas Indianapolis (>=50k comm & multi) and Des Moines (>=25k comm & multi) focus on ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager transparency without periodic audit/tune-up mandates.

### Statutory Status at a Glance
- **Madison BESP (MGO § 29.40 — >=25,000 sq ft Commercial):** Phased >=100k (2024), >=50k (2025), and >=25k (2026+); requires annual Portfolio Manager benchmarking AND repeating 4-year HVAC/building tune-ups (exemptions via high ENERGY STAR / green certs).
- **Indianapolis Ch. 604 (>=50,000 sq ft Commercial & Multifamily):** Annual June 1 whole-building energy & water reporting via Portfolio Manager across Marion County consolidated city boundaries.
- **Des Moines (>=25,000 sq ft Commercial, Multifamily & City):** Mandatory annual energy & water benchmarking structured collaboratively without financial noncompliance fines.

## Preventing Surprise 4-Year Tune-Up Filings in Madison vs. Clean Transparency in Indy & DSM

Regional asset managers rotating standard benchmarking schedules across Heartland portfolios frequently miss two rules: Madison's **commercial-only >=25k scope** requires a qualified specialist to file repeating **4-year HVAC tune-ups** (not unlike Philadelphia's 5-year RCx rule), whereas Des Moines and Indianapolis require no field tune-ups but explicitly bring **multifamily apartment buildings** into annual energy and water reporting.

- **Madison High-Performance Exit:** Verify whether ENERGY STAR scores or LEED certifications qualify covered commercial offices in Madison for tune-up waivers.
- **Water Accounts in Indy & Des Moines:** Coordinate Citizens Energy / AES Indiana (Indy) and MidAmerican / Des Moines Water Works early each spring.

| City & Citation | Threshold & Property Types | Annual Timing | Tune-Up / Penalty Design |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Madison BESP (§ 29.40) | Commercial >=25,000 sf (2026+) | Annual bench + 4-yr cycle | Mandatory 4-year HVAC tune-up (or exemption) |
| Indianapolis (Ch. 604) | Commercial & multifamily >=50k sf | Annual June 1 | Benchmarking transparency (energy & water) |
| Des Moines (Muni Code) | Comm, multifamily & city >=25k sf | Annual cycle | Mandatory PM reporting (no monetary fines) |

![Regional comparison of Madison BESP (§ 29.40 >=25k commercial + 4-year HVAC tune-ups), Indianapolis Thriving Buildings (Ch. 604 >=50k June 1), and Des Moines (>=25k collaborative benchmarking).](https://bcesg.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/infographic-midwest-bench.png)

## Compliance Execution Checklist

| Step | Owner / Team | Auditable Deliverable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Commercial vs MF Split | Asset Management | Tag Madison >=25k commercial tune-ups vs Indy (>=50k) & Des Moines (>=25k) MF. |
| 2. Spring Utility Aggregation | Property Ops | Gather MG&E (Madison), AES/Citizens (Indy), and MidAmerican/DMWW (Des Moines). |
| 3. Madison Tune-Up Audit | Qualified PE / CEM | Schedule 4-yr HVAC inspection or verify ENERGY STAR high-performance exemption. |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does Madison BESP (§ 29.40) cover multifamily residential apartment buildings?

Madison's BESP ordinance applies to commercial buildings >=25,000 sq ft (following 2024 >=100k and 2025 >=50k tiers), unlike Indianapolis and Des Moines which include multifamily properties.

### Does Des Moines fine property owners for missing its benchmarking ordinance?

No. Des Moines operates a mandatory annual >=25,000 sq ft energy and water benchmarking program modeled explicitly around collaborative education without monetary noncompliance fines.

## Primary Authorities & Official Resources

- [City of Madison — Building Energy Savings Program (BESP MGO § 29.40)](https://www.cityofmadison.com/sustainability/energy/buildings/building-energy-savings-program)
- [City of Indianapolis — Thriving Buildings Energy Benchmarking (Ch. 604)](https://www.indy.gov/activity/thriving-buildings-energy-benchmarking)
- [City of Des Moines — Energy & Water Benchmarking](https://www.dsm.city/departments/city_manager/facilities/energy_benchmarking.php)

*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.*