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Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit – City of Los Angeles

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Milestones

The deadlines are from the Date on the Order to Comply.

2 Years

Submit retrofit plans, documentation of previous retrofit, or demolition plans

3.5 Years

Obtain building permit

7 Years

Complete construction

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Overview

The City of Los Angeles adopted mandatory seismic retrofit requirements under Ordinance 183893 and Ordinance 184081. These ordinances apply to older wood-frame buildings with weak or open-front wall lines, such as structures with tuck-under parking. These buildings demonstrated poor performance in previous earthquakes, and the retrofit program aims to reduce collapse risk through cost-effective strengthening methods.
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Is Your Building Subject to the Ordinance?

Is Your Building Subject to the Ordinance?
  • Wood-frame construction
  • Two or more stories
  • Built before January 1, 1978
  • Contains ground-floor open-front conditions such as parking or wide openings
The program does not apply to residential buildings with three units or fewer. Owners can verify if their building is listed through LADBS’s online address search. Los Angeles applies this ordinance only to buildings where LADBS issued an official Order to Comply
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Learn About the Program

Los Angeles initiated this mandatory retrofit program to reduce life-safety hazards associated with soft-story buildings. These structures contain flexible or under-reinforced ground-floor wall lines that can lead to partial or total collapse during strong seismic shaking. The ordinances require owners to strengthen these deficiencies to meet minimum seismic safety standards.

Buildings with ground-floor openings or tuck-under parking are especially vulnerable. The ordinance includes multi-story wood-frame buildings constructed prior to 1978 with soft, weak, or open-front wall lines. The structural retrofit typically focuses on strengthening the first-story wall lines to create reliable lateral load resistance.

Property owners must follow the required timeline once an Order to Comply is issued.

Step 1: Hire a licensed civil or structural engineer to prepare the retrofit plans.

Step 2: Submit retrofit plans or acceptable documentation within 2 years.

Step 3: Obtain a building permit no later than 3.5 years from the date on the Order to Comply.

Step 4: Complete retrofit construction within 7 years.

LADBS performs plan review and inspections throughout the process.

Owners must comply with all THP requirements administered by LAHD (Los Angeles Housing Department). This plan may include temporary relocation requirements, sequencing of work, and access to occupied units. Owners must comply with all THP processes outlined by the City.

LADBS follows a structured review procedure for soft-story retrofit projects. Submittals must include:

  • Structural calculations and retrofit drawings
  • Wall-line strengthening details
  • Foundation and anchorage details
  • Diaphragm and collector upgrades

After permit issuance, LADBS inspects each structural component as work progresses. Final approval is granted after all inspections are complete and the retrofit meets code requirements.

Certain retrofit systems require formal structural observation by the design professional.
Observations typically occur at critical stages such as:

  • Foundation preparation and anchorage
  • Moment frame placement
  • Shear wall installation
  • Collector and diaphragm connections

The structural observation forms must be completed and submitted per LADBS requirements.

Steel special moment frames and other specialty structural systems may require a Quality Assurance Plan. This includes verification of welding procedures, material certifications, inspection protocols, and testing methods in accordance with LADBS standards.

LADBS provides guides for owners and tenants, including:

  • Property Owner Retrofit Guide
  • Tenant Habitability Guide
  • Permitting and Inspection Process Bulletin
  • Structural Observation Forms
  • Quality Assurance Plans for steel frames

Soft-Story Evaluation

  • Structural assessment of existing conditions
  • Identification of soft, weak, or open-front deficiencies
  • Determination of retrofit requirements
  • Documentation of any existing retrofit conditions

Retrofit Design

  • Complete structural calculations
  • Shear wall and moment frame strengthening
  • Cantilever column design
  • Collector, diaphragm, and load-path upgrades
  • Foundation anchorage improvements
  • Detailed retrofit drawings ready for LADBS review

Permit Coordination

  • Submittal and plan check support
  • Responses to LADBS correction notices
  • Tenant Habitability Plan coordination
  • Structural observation reporting during construction

Construction Support

  • On-site structural observations
  • RFI responses
  • Final inspection assistance until LADBS approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every pre-1978 building require a retrofit?
No. Only qualifying wood-frame buildings with soft, weak, or open-front wall conditions are included.
How do I confirm if my building is listed?
LADBS offers a searchable online database. Orders were mailed to all affected properties.
Is the Screening Form required?

Los Angeles does not use a Screening Form like other cities. Buildings listed by LADBS are presumed to require retrofit unless an engineer proves otherwise.

Who can prepare my retrofit plans?
Only licensed Civil or Structural Engineers in California.
What if I miss the deadlines?
Owners may face enforcement actions, penalties, or additional LADBS orders. Extensions are limited and must be justified.
Do tenants need to be notified?

Yes. A Tenant Habitability Plan is required for occupied buildings during construction.

Will LADBS inspect construction?
Yes. All retrofit elements must be inspected and approved by LADBS before final sign-off

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.

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