LEED for Neighborhood Development Certification

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a neighborhood development project meets the highest green building and performance measures.

To enhance the possibility of successful certification, sustainable neighborhood development strategies should be considered early in the development process. The following steps should be considered prior to registration:

1. Review the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system

Not unlike all LEED projects, the Neighborhood Development rating system is composed of prerequisites that projects must achieve and a menu of credits that earn the project points. First determine if it is likely for your project to meet all prerequisites and the minimum number of points needed for certification.

2. Determine your project boundary

The project boundary includes the land, water and construction involved within your project. You will want to determine your project boundary prior to registration since it affects the certification fees as well as how the project scores within the rating system. It's necessary that the project boundary be contiguous.

3. Determine the initial stage of certification

Since LEED for Neighborhood Development projects often have significantly longer development timelines, projects can certify at any point in the development process. Projects are not required to certify at each stage, but should choose the stage that corresponds with their place in the development process: planning, design or construction.

Stages

• Stage 1: Conditional Approval of a LEED-ND Plan
• Stage 2: Pre-Certified LEED-ND Plan
• Stage 3: Certified Neighborhood Development

4. Review the LEED-ND certification policy manual

The Neighborhood Development Certification Policy Manual includes the steps and terms and conditions projects must comply with in order to complete the certification process.

5. Register your project in LEED Online

LEED Online serves as the primary resource for managing the LEED documentation process. Through LEED Online, project teams can manage project details, complete documentation requirements, upload supporting files, and submit applications for review.