Exact Definition of LEED project boundary , Property Line

Hi Ramon,

There is no exact definition for LEED project boundary and property line in LEED Guide BD+C v4. However, LEED guide page 28 states that 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.

On page 212, there is a statement that the property line can be different from the project boundary. It is emphasized by a figure on page 227 with the LEED project boundary is inside the property line.

I find on my projects that the LEED boundary most often matches the limit of construction.

I agree with Afogreeen/Emily,

There is no specific definition & the LEED Project Boundary (LPB) most often matches the limit(s) of construction. 

From my experience, the property line most often matches the land owned by the building owner.

I have gotten pushback from GBCI on my large factory project sites - and nature centers located on government owned land - with regards to how I draw the LPB. Setting up a large factory site as a Master Site in LEED Online allows some additional flexibility AND provides some nice GBCI review discounts.

My advice, align the LPB with the limits of construction and do not expand/contract the LPB to pick up a credit or exclude "bad" from the LEED application. Some credits can be documented with strategies located outside the LEED Project Boundary. 

Good Luck!

one other thing to add....'we have been instructed to exclude future additions from the LEED project boundary' by GBCI.

so it is common to have a 'hole'' in our LPB since we cannot claim the future addtions as vegetated or hardscape or building footprint.

Hello, thanks for the answers already provided.

Is it possible to change project boundary after having registered or precertified the project? Or would it be better, if there is a feel for where future buildings might be located, to exclude these areas directly as suggested by David?

thanks in advance for you help 

Yes, you can adjust the boundary after precertification. The actual certification is essentially a fresh start that doesn't take the precert into account. And it's understood that precert is so early in design, things will change between then and the certification submission.

Hi Emily, 

Thanks so much for your very clear answer!

Could you only please also confirm that, once a project has been registered and the flat fee paid, there is no maximum time frame to start the certification process?

For example, if I register my project in 2021 for LEED v4 and choose the Split Review, I could start with the design review in 2025 and the construction review in 2028, granted that I am within closure/sunset dates for the version (LEED Certification Deadlines | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)) and that I complete the construciton review no later than 2 years after the end of construction itself, is this correct?

Thanks so much

Luisa

That's correct.