LEED minimum program requirements
All projects applying for LEED certification must meet a set of minimum program requirements (MPRs) to determine project eligibility for LEED. Minimum program requirements define the types of buildings that LEED was designed to evaluate. Taken together, they serve three goals: to give clear guidance to customers, to reduce complications that occur during the LEED certification process and to protect the integrity of the LEED program. The MPRs below reflect the most recent rating system version. View older version in the LEED credit library.
Minimum Program Requirement #1: Must be in a permanent location on existing land
- Intent: The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, neighborhoods, communities and cities in the context of their surroundings. A significant portion of LEED requirements are dependent on the project’s location, therefore it is important that LEED projects are evaluated as permanent structures. Locating projects on existing land is important to avoid artificial land masses that have the potential to displace and disrupt ecosystems.
- Requirements: All LEED projects must be constructed and operated on a permanent location on existing land. No project that is designed to move at any point in its lifetime may pursue LEED certification. This requirement applies to all land within the LEED project.
Minimum Program Requirement #2: Must use reasonable LEED boundaries
- Intent: The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, neighborhoods, communities and cities and all environmental impacts associated with those projects. Defining a reasonable LEED boundary ensures that project is accurately evaluated.
- Requirements: The LEED project boundary must include all contiguous land that is associated with the project and supports its typical operations. This includes land altered as a result of construction and features used primarily by the project’s occupants, such as hardscape (parking and sidewalks), septic or stormwater treatment equipment, and landscaping. The LEED boundary may not unreasonably exclude portions of the building, space, or site to give the project an advantage in complying with credit requirements. The LEED project must accurately communicate the scope of the certifying project in all promotional and descriptive materials and distinguish it from any non-certifying space.
Minimum Program Requirement #3: Must comply with project size requirements
- Intent: The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, or neighborhoods of a certain size. The LEED requirements do not accurately assess the performance of projects outside of these size requirements.
- Requirements: All LEED projects must meet the size requirements listed below.
- LEED BD+C and LEED O+M Rating Systems: The LEED project must include a minimum of 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) of gross floor area.
- LEED ID+C Rating Systems: The LEED project must include a minimum of 250 square feet (22 square meters) of gross floor area
- LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating Systems: The LEED project should contain at least two habitable buildings and be no larger than 1500 acres.
- LEED for Homes Rating Systems: The LEED project must be defined as a “dwelling unit” by all applicable codes. This requirement includes, but is not limited to, the International Residential Code stipulation that a dwelling unit must include “permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.”
- Note: This MPR is not applicable to the LEED for Cities and Communities: Existing and LEED for Cities and Communities: Plan and Design rating systems.