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Getting started with LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities

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Certification approaches

How do I decide between Plan and Design or Existing Project type?

The first step is to identify which adaptation to use: Plan and Design or Existing. 

  • Plan and Design: A project should use the "Plan and Design" adaptation of the rating system when it is in the planning phase, and must submit for certification before over 75% of its total planned building gross floor area has been constructed.
  • Existing: If 75% or more of a project’s total planned building gross floor area is constructed, a project must use the Existing rating system and must certify after being operational for a minimum of one year.

From there, you can determine whether it is a city or a community.

What is the difference between LEED for Communities and the LEED Campus Guidance?

LEED for Communities is a rating system that certifies projects at the community scale. The LEED Campus Guidance is not a rating system, but rather, a guidance document that describes two optional approaches (Campus and Group) for streamlining the certification of multiple buildings located on a shared site using the commercial LEED BD+C, ID+C, and O+M rating systems.

LEED for Communities does not certify individual buildings or interior spaces as LEED BD+C, O+M, or ID+C do. When a team is interested in certifying one or more buildings/interior spaces, LEED BD+C, O+M, and ID+C are the rating systems to consider, including commercial or residential adaptations. When multiple buildings/interior spaces pursue LEED BD+C, O+M, or ID+C certification on a shared site, if they are eligible, we recommend that teams consider utilizing the LEED Campus Guidance to streamline the certifications of multiple projects, using the Campus (Master Site) and/or the Group approaches. Please find eligibility/functionality information in these FAQs. Note that the LEED Campus Guidance does not facilitate certification of campuses or shared sites themselves, but streamlines the certification process of multiple buildings or interior spaces located within those areas. LEED BD+C, O+M, ID+C rating systems only certify buildings or interior spaces, even though project site areas must be accounted for in certain prerequisite and credit requirements and calculations. Teams that are interested in certifying landscape areas (with or without buildings) would be encouraged to consider the SITES certification, which can also be pursued at the same time as LEED for Communities, BD+C, O+M, ID+C, and/or Residential BD+C/Homes.

For more information, refer to the FAQ below and the following resources:

Is it possible to use both LEED for Communities and LEED Campus Guidance for the same project, and if so, what are the benefits?

Yes, we would encourage you to explore both LEED for Communities rating system and the LEED Campus Guidance by browsing through the resources below. Some facts might be of interest:

  • The LEED for Communities rating system and LEED Campus Guidance can be utilized simultaneously if the team is interested in certifying not only a community but also multiple buildings/spaces on a single shared site within that community that are using LEED BD+C, ID+C or O+M. We would encourage teams to consider this option where both the larger community as well as the building construction & design or performance can be showcased with multiple LEED certifications. Here are some examples of projects that successfully leveraged the LEED Campus Guidance to achieve LEED certification for multiple buildings and simultaneously, achieved the LEED for Communities rating: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, United States; DLF Cybercity, Gurugram, India.
  • When using the Campus (aka Master Site) and/or Group approaches, please note that the Campus (Master Site) does not receive a certification.
  • When certifying multiple buildings on a shared site, it is not mandatory to utilize the Campus or Group approaches explained in the LEED Campus Guidance.

When implemented together, the LEED for Communities rating system and LEED Campus Guidance provide substantial benefits to project teams, occupants, residents, and visitors. They help advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by conserving water, improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly lowering harmful air pollutants. Additionally, they promote education, create jobs, enhance health and well-being, and strengthen community resilience. Policymakers, planners, and builders are increasingly leveraging these LEED programs as effective strategies to achieve the UN SDGs.

For more information, refer to the FAQ above and the following resources:

Rating system resources

Where do I find the rating system guides and additional resources?

Beta Guides and additional resources for all four adaptations of the rating system can be found on the LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities homepages as well as the USGBC resource library.

Project registration

How do I register my project?

Project registration for all four adaptations is supported in LEED Online.

To get started, select either "Cities" or "Communities" on the right, then select either the "Create a new city" or "Create a new community" button.

Registering LFC.png

When registering a community project, I get an error message to "enter valid total area". How do I correct this?

This error message shows up for project with the "Total area" below one square mile. For registration, indicate that the project is "1" square mile in this field. After the project has been registered, contact us providing us with the correct total area of the project, and we will update this in your project.

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