LEED AP ND cheat sheet

LEED ND is a rating system for neighborhood-scale projects; certification is pursued at the neighborhood development level, not building by building, though individual buildings may separately pursue LEED Building Design and Construction.

Prerequisites are mandatory and unscored; credits earn points. Certification tiers are Certified (40-49), Silver (50-59), Gold (60-79), and Platinum (80+), on a 110-point base scale.

The rating system is organized into credit categories: Smart Location and Linkage; Neighborhood Pattern and Design; Green Infrastructure and Buildings; Innovation; and Regional Priority.

Innovation credits are capped at 6 points; Regional Priority credits are capped at 4 points. Credits earned in the four technical categories are uncapped within their own limits.

A project must satisfy prerequisites in every applicable category before any credit in that category is awarded; failing a prerequisite blocks certification regardless of total points.

LEED ND applies to projects that include a mix of uses and are planned or built at a neighborhood scale; typical thresholds involve minimum density and contiguous land area defined in the rating system.

The certification process involves registration, documentation submission, preliminary review, optional appeal, and final certification; the project team submits through the online platform.

A project boundary must be legally described and contiguous; the boundary defines which land and buildings count toward credits and prerequisites.

Alternative compliance paths allow projects outside typical contexts (for example, campus or multiple-building projects) to demonstrate equivalent performance where the rating system permits.

Walkable streets credits reward compact, connected street networks with frequent intersections and short block lengths; higher intersection density generally earns more points.

Mixed-use credits reward a diversity of uses within walking distance, often measured by the share of dwelling units within a walkable radius of non-residential uses.

Affordable housing credits reward a proportion of housing units priced for a range of incomes, often expressed as a percentage of total units.

Compact development credits reward higher residential and non-residential density relative to land area, reducing per-capita infrastructure and transportation impacts.

Connected and open community credits reward street networks that connect to surrounding development and provide public access, avoiding gated or cul-de-sac-only layouts.

Transit and bicycle facilities credits reward proximity to transit stops and provision of bicycle parking, showers, and safe cycling infrastructure.

Community outreach and design review credits reward meaningful public participation during planning and design, documented through meetings and feedback incorporation.

Tree-lined and shaded streets, reduced parking footprints, and pedestrian-scale design are common strategies for earning pattern and design credits.

Green infrastructure credits address stormwater management, heat island reduction, and light pollution reduction at the neighborhood scale, not just individual buildings.

Stormwater credits reward managing runoff volume and quality through infiltration, retention, and low-impact development techniques such as bioswales and permeable pavement.

Heat island reduction credits reward cool roofs, reflective and vegetated surfaces, and shade trees to reduce urban heat.

Water efficiency credits reward reducing potable water use for irrigation and buildings through native landscaping, rainwater harvesting, and efficient fixtures.

Energy efficiency credits reward reducing building energy use through envelope, systems, and renewable energy, often measured against a baseline.

Waste management credits reward construction and demolition waste diversion and neighborhood-scale recycling and composting infrastructure.

Building reuse and historic preservation credits reward retaining existing structures, reducing embodied carbon and preserving neighborhood character.

Light pollution reduction credits reward shielding exterior lighting and limiting upward light to protect night sky and ecology.

Smart location credits reward sites near existing development, transit, and infrastructure, avoiding greenfield and environmentally sensitive land.

Brownfield remediation credits reward cleaning and redeveloping contaminated sites, turning liabilities into productive neighborhood land.

Sensitive land protection credits reward avoiding development on wetlands, floodplains, prime farmland, and habitat for threatened species.

Bicycle and transit linkages credits reward safe, direct connections between the neighborhood and surrounding destinations, transit, and bicycle networks.

Documentation for smart location credits often requires maps, site plans, and calculations of distances to transit and existing development.

Documentation for pattern and design credits often requires street network maps, intersection counts, and unit-mix tables.

Documentation for green infrastructure credits often requires stormwater calculations, energy models, and water-use calculations.

A complete submittal ties every credit claim to a prerequisite, a metric, and supporting evidence; missing evidence is a common cause of denial.

Each credit claim should identify the credit, the metric, the calculation method, and the supporting files in a consistent naming convention.

Preliminary review returns credit decisions and comments; the team may respond with clarifications and additional evidence before final review.

Appeals are available for credits denied at final review, subject to fees and deadlines defined by the rating system.

Regional Priority credits are selected from a list specific to the project's location and are worth bonus points beyond the base categories.

Innovation credits require a documented exemplary performance or a pilot credit claim with a clear metric and evidence.

Consistency between the project boundary, the site plan, and all calculations is essential; boundary changes after registration require updating documentation.

Version control and a documentation index help teams avoid submitting outdated files during review cycles.

Total available points combine the four technical categories plus Innovation (up to 6) and Regional Priority (up to 4).

Prerequisites are pass/fail and are not worth points; they must be met before related credits are awarded.

Certification thresholds: Certified 40-49, Silver 50-59, Gold 60-79, Platinum 80 and above.

Credit categories are scored independently; a project can earn points in one category while missing credits in another, provided all prerequisites are met.

Regional Priority credits vary by location and reward addressing locally significant environmental issues.

Innovation credits reward exemplary performance beyond credit requirements or approved pilot credits.

The project boundary and site description anchor all credit calculations; changing them affects multiple credits simultaneously.