SB 253 & SB 261 Compliance
1-on-1 support · Up to 70% less prep time · Trusted by 250+ companies
SB 253 TIMELINE
FIRST REPORTS DUE NOV 10
Nov 2026
Scope 1 & 2 due
2027
Limited assurance begins
2027+
Scope 3 reporting req.
SB 253 revenue threshold
Maximum fine per year
Jim Shotsberger, Director of Purchasing & Customer Service Manager, KenMode
Who has to report, what's due, and what's next
A California law that requires large companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions.
Public and private companies that earn over $1B a year and do business in California.
A climate risk report for companies earning $500M+.
Supply chain emissions (Scope 3) and an independent assurance, from 2027.
Over $1B and selling in California? Report by Nov 10, 2026, or risk fines of up to $500K a year.
Under $1B? Your large customers will still ask. Fast answers keep the account.
Over $500M? Prepare your SB 261 report now, so you're ready when the pause lifts.
Utility, fuel and travel data pulled in automatically. No manual entry.
A dedicated specialist prepares your report and keeps an audit-ready evidence trail.
Our partner Blue Sky Climate handles your climate risk report and third-party assurance.
Carbonhound
Enterprise carbon platforms
Large consulting firms
Pricing
Fixed fee, clear scope
Annual license, priced for enterprise budgets
Project fees, often six figures
Time to first report
4–6 weeks
Often months of setup
Often months
Who does the work
Automated data plus a dedicated specialist
Your team, once onboarded
Consultants, often in spreadsheets
Support
1-on-1 with a Climate Action Specialist
Help desk or tiered support
For the length of the project
Third-party assurance
Provided through our partner Blue Sky Climate
Usually sourced separately
Varies
Reuse for CDP, EcoVadis and customer requests
Included
Often add-on modules
New scope each time
You know the cost up front. No hourly consulting bills and no surprise add-ons.
Automation cuts prep time by up to 70%, so you’re ready well before November 10.
Automated data and a dedicated Climate Action Specialist do the heavy lifting.
The same data answers customer requests, CDP and EcoVadis, and shows where you can cut energy costs.
Book a 15-minute SB 253 review
resource
Does SB 253 apply to my company, and what is the timeline?
Yes, if you earn over $1B a year and do business in California, even if you're based elsewhere. "Doing business" usually means you're based in California or sell more than about $757,000 a year there. Your first report is due November 10, 2026. After that, it's due every November 10.
What are the SB 253 and SB 261 penalties?
What do we need to report in the first year?
What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
When does Scope 3 reporting start?
We earn under $1B. Should we care about SB 253?
What is SB 261, and is it still happening?
Can we reuse our SB 253 data for CDP, EcoVadis or customer surveys?
How long does it take with Carbonhound?
How much does SB 253 compliance cost?
What's the most low-cost, affordable way to comply with SB 253?
Get a fixed-fee quote