Older multi-family wood-frame buildings in Beverly Hills, the ones with tuck-under parking, carports, or large ground-floor openings, are among the most vulnerable structures in a major earthquake. The City’s mandatory retrofit ordinance exists to fix that, and SoCal Structural helps property owners move through every stage of compliance, from the initial screening form to final inspection sign-off.
The Beverly Hills Ordinance at a Glance
Under Ordinance 18-O-2767, the City of Beverly Hills requires owners of qualifying wood-frame multi-family buildings to evaluate their structures for Soft, Weak, or Open-Front (SWOF) wall conditions and strengthen them where needed. Buildings with open parking at the ground floor are the primary concern, the lack of solid wall bracing at that level creates a “soft story” that can fail catastrophically under lateral seismic loads.
The ordinance requires every affected owner to submit a Screening Form, and if the building isn’t exempt, to complete engineered retrofit plans and construction within the City’s compliance schedule.
Does Your Building Qualify?
A property falls under the ordinance if all of the following apply:
- Wood-frame construction
- Two or more stories
- Built before January 1, 1978
- Has ground-floor parking, garages, or open-front wall lines
- Shows one or more Soft, Weak, or Open-Front wall conditions
Single-family homes are outside the ordinance. Certain detached accessory structures may qualify for an exemption review.
Compliance Deadlines by Tier
Beverly Hills sorted affected buildings into three tiers, each with its own deadline schedule:
| Milestone | Tier I (3+ stories) | Tier II (2 stories, 6+ units) | Tier III (all other qualifying buildings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit Screening Form | Dec 30, 2019 | July 6, 2020 | Jan 4, 2021 |
| Submit Retrofit Plans + Calcs | June 30, 2020 | Jan 5, 2021 | July 6, 2021 |
| Obtain Retrofit Permit | June 30, 2021 | Jan 5, 2022 | July 6, 2022 |
| Begin Construction | Dec 29, 2021 | July 6, 2022 | Jan 4, 2023 |
| Final Inspection | June 30, 2022 | Jan 5, 2023 | July 6, 2023 |
All tier deadlines have now passed. Owners who haven’t yet complied are at risk of City-issued violations and should act as quickly as possible.
The Screening Form
The Screening Form is the starting point for every affected property. It must be prepared and signed by a California-licensed Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, or Architect, and it establishes four things:
- Whether the building is subject to the ordinance at all
- Whether SWOF conditions exist
- Whether a full retrofit is required
- Whether a prior retrofit qualifies the building for exemption
A complete submission includes a ground-floor plan, elevations of the perimeter walls, photographs of every side of the building, clear identification of the SWOF conditions, and, when applicable, a proposed retrofit scope.
The Plan Review and Permit Process
When the screening determines that a retrofit is required, the project moves through a defined sequence with Beverly Hills Building & Safety:
- Prepare the engineered retrofit plans and structural calculations
- Submit the plan set to Building & Safety
- Address plan check corrections
- Obtain the retrofit permit
- Begin construction within the required window
- Pass the City’s inspections during the work
- Obtain final inspection approval
Exemptions
Not every building flagged for review actually needs a retrofit. A property may qualify for exemption if it fails to meet all three core criteria (pre-1978, wood-frame, and SWOF), or if it was previously retrofitted to a standard that meets or exceeds what the current ordinance requires. Exemption requests are submitted to the City’s Retrofit Division for review and documentation.
How SoCal Structural Supports Your Project
Screening Reports. Full SWOF evaluation, a clear “retrofit required” or “exempt” determination, supporting sketches, elevations, and photos, and documentation packaged for any exemption request.
Retrofit Plan Sets. Engineered designs that meet Beverly Hills guidelines, including lateral analysis, diaphragm checks, wall strengthening, collector and drag system design, and foundation upgrades, delivered as a complete, plan-check-ready drawing set.
Permit Coordination. We handle plan check responses, structural observation forms, and communication with the City throughout the process.
Construction Support. On-site structural observation, RFI responses during construction, and assistance all the way through final inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every older building in Beverly Hills need a retrofit? No. The ordinance applies only to pre-1978 multi-family wood-frame buildings that have SWOF conditions.
Who’s allowed to prepare the Screening Form? A California-licensed Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, or Architect.
Can my building be exempt? Possibly. The Screening Form is the evaluation that determines eligibility for exemption.
What if a retrofit was already completed at the property? If the prior work meets or exceeds the current ordinance standards, the building may qualify for exemption, but the City must review the documentation.
What happens if I missed the deadlines? The City can issue violations and demand immediate compliance. Moving quickly on a screening and retrofit is the best path forward.
Do I have to notify tenants? Yes. Required postings and construction notices must be provided to occupants.
Are there any fee refunds available? Beverly Hills previously offered refund incentives for early completion, but since the original deadlines have passed, those no longer apply to new projects.
Get Started
SoCal Structural handles Beverly Hills soft-story retrofits end-to-end, screening, engineering, permitting, and construction support. Reach out for a free estimate and we’ll walk you through exactly where your building stands.