LEED for Neighborhood Development

Significance of LEED-ND certification

LEED for Neighborhood Development recognizes development projects that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life. The rating system encourages smart growth and New Urbanism best practices by:

promoting the location and design of neighborhoods that reduce vehicle miles travelled (VMT);

creating developments where jobs and services are accessible by foot or public transit; and

promoting an array of green building and green infrastructure practices, particularly for more efficient energy and water use.

Cities are increasingly using LEED-ND certification to accelerate the development of certified projects.

Project types

LEED for Neighborhood Development is designed to certify exemplary development projects that perform well in terms of smart growth, urbanism, and green building. Projects may constitute whole neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods, or multiple neighborhoods. Projects are often mixed-use, though small single-use projects that complement existing neighborhood uses may also use the rating system. Local jurisdictions should not use LEED-ND as a replacement for comprehensive planning, however, many local jurisdictions may find that LEED for Neighborhood Development is a meaningful tool to help promote sustainable land development if incentivized or used as a guideline when revising local codes and regulations.

Credit categories

The following credit categories are included in the rating system:

Smart Location and Linkage 

Encourages communities to consider location, transportation alternatives, and preservation of sensitive lands while also discouraging sprawl.

Neighborhood Pattern and Design 

Emphasizes vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable and mixed-use.

Green Infrastructure and Buildings 

Promotes the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure that reduce energy and water use, while promoting more sustainable use of materials, reuse of existing and historic structures, and other sustainable best practices.

Innovation and Design Process 

Recognizes exemplary and innovative performance reaching beyond the existing credits in the rating system, as well as the value of including an accredited professional on the design team.

Regional Priority 

Encourages projects to focus on earning credits of significance to the project’s local environment.

Stages of certification

LEED for Neighborhood Development differs from other commercial and residential LEED rating systems as it has three stages of certification that relate to phases of real-estate development:

Stage 1: Conditionally Approved Plan 

Provides the conditional approval of a LEED-ND Plan available for projects before they have completed the entitlements, or public review, process. It is envisioned that completing Stage 1 will help projects get support from the local government and from the community.

Stage 2: Pre-Certified Plan 

Pre-certifies a LEED-ND plan and is applicable for fully entitled projects or projects under construction. Completing this review can help projects secure financing, expedited permitting or attract tenants.

Stage 3: Certified Neighborhood Development 

Completed projects formally apply for LEED certification to recognize that the project has achieved all the prerequisites and credits attempted.

LEED-ND and other LEED rating systems

All LEED-ND projects are required to have at least one certified green building. Points are also available within the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system for having certified green buildings in the development and for integrating green building and infrastructure practices within the project. These credits relate to energy efficiency, reduced water use, building reuse, recycled materials, and heat island reduction.