QAP Round-Up: Where the NGBS is Recognized

Each State’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program’s Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) is adopted individually by state regulation and in accordance with the standards and procedures of IRC Section 42.

NGBS Green certification is based on the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard® and is recognized as on-par or more rigorous than any other rating systems. The NGBS was specifically designed for residential projects and is affordable to implement while being ideally suited for low-income housing programs to meet their goals. As the first ANSI-approved, ICC green building standard, the NGBS provides builders with a comprehensive third-party verified program that requires projects receive a minimum point threshold in every category of green building. Along with nearly 30 state recognized Qualified Allocation Plans, federal agencies such as HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also recognize the NGBS by name as on-par or more stringent to other residential green rating systems. The goal of the NGBS Green certification program is to recognize projects that reach exceptional levels of sustainable design.

Below is an alphabetical list by state of all known Qualified Allocation Plan incentives recognizing NGBS Green certification.

ARIZONA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Arizona Department of Housing LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan awards 10 points for projects that certify to the NGBS at the silver level or higher, LEED at the silver level or higher, or Enterprise Green Communities.

CALIFORNIA, Qualified Allocation Plan – California Tax Credit Allocation Committee’s Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits lists NGBS at a Silver or higher level as a minimum requirement alongside LEED, Passive House, Living Building Challenge or the GreenPoint Rated Program. Achievement of any of these programs serves as an alternative to the agency’s Sustainable Building Method workbook for new construction and rehabilitation.

COLORADO, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires all projects to obtain a third-party green building certification. CHFA recognizes NGBS, LEED and Enterprise Green Communities as acceptable certification programs.

CONNECTICUT, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit program awards 2 or 3 points for Green Building Criteria. Projects earn 2 points for NGBS Gold, LEED Gold, or Enterprise Green Communities certifications. To earn 3 points, the project must earn NGBS Emerald, LEED Platinum, or Living Building Challenge Core Ready certifications.

DELAWARE, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Delaware State Housing Authority’s Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 3 points for NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED. Two additional points are available for Passive House, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, or a HERS score of 75 or less (only available for acquisitions/rehabilitations).

FLORIDA, Qualified Allocation Plan – Florida Housing Finance Corporation Request for Applications for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires that new construction and redevelopment projects be certified to the NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, Florida Green Building Program, or LEED.

GEORGIA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires green certification to the NGBS, LEED for Homes, EarthCraft, or Enterprise Green Communities.

HAWAII, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits awards up to 4 points for NGBS, LEED, or Enterprise Green Communities certifications. NGBS Points awarded are: 1 point for Bronze; 2 points for Silver; 3 points for Gold; and 4 points for Emerald.

IDAHO, Qualified Allocation Plan –The Idaho Housing and Finance Association Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 8 points for a NGBS, ENERGY STAR, LEED, Enterprise, Indoor airPLUS, and Passive House Certification in their QAP.

ILLINOIS, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Illinois Housing Development Authority Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits awards 7 points under the "Basic level" of Green Building Certification Requirements for certifying to NGBS Gold, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED Gold, or International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Core. Projects can earn 10 points under the “Advanced Level” for EGC Plus, LEED Platinum, NGBS Emerald, ILFI Living Building, or PHIUS Core. The highest level, “Net Zero Level”, awards 13 points for EGC Plus via Criterion 5.4, LEED Zero, NGBS Green +NET ZERO ENERGY, ILFI Zero Energy or Zero Carbon, or PHIUS Zero.

INDIANA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires that newly-constructed buildings be in compliance with NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, or equivalent ANSI-approved rating system.

LOUISIANA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Louisiana Housing Corporation Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 5 points for NGBS, LEED, Enterprise Green Communities, or EarthCraft certifications. All projects are required to obtain a Fortified Roof certification.

MARYLAND, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 10 points for projects that are certified to NGBS, EarthCraft, Enterprise Green Communities, Green Globes, International Living Future Institute Net Zero, LEED, or PHIUS+.

MICHIGAN, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Michigan State Housing Development Authority Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires compliance with the NGBS Green (Silver level or higher), Enterprise Green Communities (New Construction Mandatory + 40 Optional), or LEED (Silver level or higher). Additional competitive points are available for the NGBS Green+ NET ZERO ENERGY, Enterprise Green Communities Plus, LEED Zero Energy, or PHIUS+ certifications.

MISSISSIPPI, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Mississippi Home Corporation Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 7 points to projects that earn NGBS (silver level), Enterprise Green Communities, or FORTIFIED Multifamily (Gold) certification.

MISSOURI, Qualified Allocation Plan – In the Missouri Housing Development Commission Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, projects must be in compliance with the NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, Qualified Allocation Plan – In the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits awards 2 points for projects achieving a NGBS Gold certification, LEED Gold, or Enterprise Green Communities certification. Projects certified as Passive House or The Institute for Living Futures Net Zero are eligible to receive 8 points.

NEW JERSEY, Qualified Allocation Plan – The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards 4 points for NGBS Silver, LEED Silver, or Enterprise Green Communities certification with climate adaptive practices selected, or Living Building Challenge, Passive House, or NJ Energy Homes + renewables. Alternatively, 3 points are available for entry-level of the NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, or LEED.

NEW YORK, Qualified Allocation Plan – New York State Homes and Community Renewal requires that all funded multifamily projects meet energy efficiency and green building requirements. NGBS, ENERGY STAR, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, WELL, Fitwel, and Passive House are recognized options.

NORTH DAKOTA, Qualified Allocation Plan – North Dakota Housing Finance Agency Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits recognizes NGBS, LEED, and Enterprise Green Communities certification and awards a developer up to 7 optional points.

OHIO, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Ohio Housing Finance Agency Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits requires that all funded projects obtain one of the following green building certifications: NGBS Green (silver or higher), LEED (silver or higher), or Enterprise Green Communities certification.

PENNSYLVANIA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits recognizes the NGBS Silver, LEED Silver, and Enterprise Green Communities certifications for 10 points for newly-constructed buildings. For preservation developments, NGBS Bronze, LEED Certified, and Enterprise Green Communities earn 10 points.

PUERTO RICO, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Qualified Allocation Plan stipulates that funded new construction and substantial renovation projects must comply with a HUD-approved green building standard. These include the NGBS, ENERGY STAR, Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, and Indoor airPLUS.

SOUTH CAROLINA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority’s Qualified Allocation Plan awards 5 points for NGBS, LEED for Homes, Enterprise Green Communities, or EarthCraft certification.

TEXAS, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits awards up to 4 points for NGBS, LEED, and Enterprise Green Communities certification.

UTAH, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Utah Housing Corporation Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits awards 5 competitive points for NGBS Green Certification, LEED, Enterprise Green Communities, ENERGY STAR NextGen, DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes, Passive House, Green Globes or WELL.

VIRGIN ISLANDS (U.S.), Qualified Allocation Plan – The U.S. Virgin Islands Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits recognizes NGBS, LEED, Enterprise Green Communities, and ENERGY STAR certification. Under Energy Efficiency, up to 10 points may be awarded, with 9 points for NGBS Bronze and 10 points for Silver and above.

VIRGINIA, Qualified Allocation Plan – The Virginia Housing Development Authority Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits awards 10 points for developments meeting NGBS Green Certification, LEED, Earth Craft, or Enterprise Green Communities.

WASHINGTON, Qualified Allocation Plan – Washington’s State Housing Finance Commission recognizes NGBS Green certification (Silver level and higher) as one option for meeting the requirements for the Energy Spark Home Loan program, which provides a .25 interest rate reduction for qualifying buyers of energy-efficient homes.