When Will LEED v4 / v4.1 and LEED v5 Expire?
Information suggests that LEED v6 would likely rollout in early 2030, serve as the current version from 2030 through 2035, and ultimately sunset around 2041
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The latest version of the LEED rating system, LEED v5, is open for business. Registration is open, the Credit Library the Reference Guides are published, and a new version of Arc has replaced the old LEED Online platform.
Naturally, every time a new version of LEED is launched, questions about timelines emerge:
How long can you still register a project under LEED v4 / v4.1?
When will LEED v4 / v4.1 sunset?
How long will LEED v5 be active?
When will LEED v6 be coming to market?
In the interest of providing clarity for any such inquiry, please consider the following, which pulls together the latest information currently available.
USGBC's posted LEED certification deadlines for LEED v4 / v4.1
USGBC offers a central location where the organization has posted all announced LEED certification deadlines. The webpage clarifies the close of project registration and certification sunset date for every version of the rating system up through LEED v4 and v4.1. It also lists the deadlines for past versions of LEED as well.
Five-year development cycle and LEED v5
Additionally, USGBC has announced that starting with LEED v5, the rating system has moved to a five-year development cycle to provide increased predictability for the market. USGBC clarified that this cadence started with the 2025 release of the balloted LEED v5 rating system, meaning LEED v6 may be anticipated to open registration in early 2030.
Using precedent and recent announcements a guide, the following is expected for LEED v5:
Mid 2030: Registration close for LEED v5 BD+C, ID+C, O+M.
Mid 2036: Certification sunset for LEED v5 BD+C, ID+C, O+M.
At this time, there is not enough information to know if LEED v5 O+M recertification project registration would close in 2030 or 2031.
Moreover, this information also suggests that LEED v6 would likely rollout in early 2030, serve as the current version from 2030 through 2035, and ultimately sunset around 2041.
LEED rollout and sunset timeline... as of now
Though it is very much subject to change, the figure below indicates the LEED rollout and sunset timeline based on the best information available as of January 1, 2026.
LEED rollout and sunset timeline based on information as of January 1, 2026. Figure by Daniel Overbey.
