LEED for Neighborhood Development is Launched

The LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for neighborhood design. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a development's location and design meet accepted high levels of environmentally responsible, sustainable development. LEED for Neighborhood Development is a collaboration among USGBC, Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

LEED for Neighborhood Development Registration Is Now Open!

Project teams are now able to register their projects in LEED Online and download forms for the Smart Location & Linkage (SLL) Prerequisite Review. This new feature will enable projects to assess their location against the SLL prerequisites before paying for a full certification.  Full certification will be added in late 2010 and project teams will be notified as soon as more information is available. For additional details and fee information, please visit the GBCI website.  To learn more about the SLL Prerequisite Review, check out the FAQ documents listed below:

  • LEED for Neighborhood Development Certification FAQ
  • LEED for Neighborhood Development Program FAQ

    • Non-U.S. Projects

    LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development Rating System

    The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system passed USGBC's ballot and has received approval from our partner organizations, the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The rating system now represents two-and-a-half years of market and user feedback.

    While registration for new projects is not anticipated to open until 2010, the balloted rating system can be downloaded for review by anyone interested, including for-profit and nonprofit developers, owners, others involved in projects that may seek LEED for Neighborhood Development certification, and local governments interested in reviewing the rating system for possible incentives or as an evaluation tool.

    Information about registration and the certification process will be posted when available.

    LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development Rating System (ZIP - 12MB)
    LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development Project Checklist (XLS)

    The LEED Reference Guide for Green Neighborhood Development is now available in hardcopy or e-book.

    Addenda to the LEED Reference Guide for Green Neighborhood Development (PDF) - It is strongly recommended that project teams adhere to the Reference Guide addenda based on registration date.

    LEED for Neighborhood Development Reference Guide

    LEED for Neighborhood Development Regional Priority Credits


    Through USGBC’s regional councils, chapters and affiliates, the following regionally priority credits were selected for the LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development rating system. Project teams may earn up to four of the six credits which are specific to the zip code of a project's location. The credits for each zip code are available in the following sheet (XLS).

    LEED for Neighborhood Development Regional Priority Credit Lookup

    Note: These regional priority credits are only applicable for the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System.

    LEED for Neighborhood Development, Pilot


    The pilot opened in July 2007 with nearly 240 projects participating. They provided important feedback about the rating system. The pilot is no longer open to new projects.

    Pilot Version Rating System (PDF)
    Pilot Version Project Checklist (PDF)

    List of LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot projects by project name (PDF)
    List of LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot projects by state/province (PDF)

    List of Certified LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot projects (PDF)

    Characteristics of LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot Projects (PDF)

    USGBC would like to thank the Blue Moon Fund, the EPA Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment, the EPA Development, Community, and Environment Division, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kresge Foundation for their support of LEED for Neighborhood Development.

    Mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, in a way that improves the quality of life in West Michigan.