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), Indianapolis Thriving Buildings (Ch. 604), and Des Moines Energy & Water Benchmarking.
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.
- 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.
Download the Madison, Indianapolis & Des Moines Guide
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) |
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. |
Keep This Madison, WI · Indianapolis, IN · Des Moines, IA Compliance Checklist Handy
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)
- City of Indianapolis — Thriving Buildings Energy Benchmarking (Ch. 604)
- City of Des Moines — Energy & Water Benchmarking
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.