This program applies to all existing buildings with the following criteria:

  1. Two or more stories wood frame construction wood frame construction
  2. Built under the building code standards enacted before January 1, 1978
  3. Contains ground or other similar open floor space that causes soft, weak or open wall lines.
  • Two or more stories wood frame construction wood frame construction
  • Built under the building code standards enacted before January 1, 1978
  • Contains ground or other similar open floor space that causes soft, weak or open wall lines.

    • Exception: The program does not apply to residential buildings with 3 or less units.

    Submit proof of previous retrofit, plans to retrofit, or plans to demolish to the Department of Building and Safety. Plans and calculations will be checked for compliance with the retrofit ordinance. LADBS will provide guidance for all necessary steps to obtain the retrofit permit, which includes obtaining clearances from all pertinent agencies.

    The purpose of this program is to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life that may result from the effects of earthquakes on wood frame soft-story buildings. In the Northridge Earthquake, many wood frame soft- story buildings caused loss of life, injury, and property damage. This program creates a guide for property owners on strengthening their building to improve performance during an earthquake.

    Each property owner of these buildings will be sent an order to comply. These orders will be sent accordingly based on the following priority:

    Priority Categories Start date of Sending Out Orders
    I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units 3-story and above May 2, 2016
    2-story July 22, 2016
    II. Buildings with 3 or more stories with less than 16 units Oct 17, 2016
    III. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or II with 9-15 units TBD
    with 7-8 units TBD
    with 4-6 units TBD
    Condos/Commercial TBD
    Priority Categories Start date of Sending Out Orders
    I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units 3-story and above May 2, 2016
    2-story July 22, 2016
    II. Buildings with 3 or more stories with less than 16 units Oct 17, 2016
    III. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or II with 9-15 units TBD
    with 7-8 units TBD
    with 4-6 units TBD
    Condos/Commercial TBD
    Priority Categories Start date of Sending Out Orders I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units 3-story and above May 2, 2016 2-story July 22, 2016 II. Buildings with 3 or more stories with less than 16 units Oct 17, 2016 III. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or II with 9-15 units TBD with 7-8 units TBD with 4-6 units TBD Condos/Commercial TBD Priority Categories Start date of Sending Out Orders PriorityCategoriesStart date of Sending Out Orders I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units 3-story and above May 2, 2016 I. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units3-story and aboveMay 2, 2016 2-story July 22, 2016 2-storyJuly 22, 2016 II. Buildings with 3 or more stories with less than 16 units Oct 17, 2016 II. Buildings with 3 or more storieswith less than 16 unitsOct 17, 2016 III. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or II with 9-15 units TBD III. Buildings not falling within the definition of Priority I or IIwith 9-15 unitsTBD with 7-8 units TBD with 7-8 unitsTBD with 4-6 units TBD with 4-6 unitsTBD Condos/Commercial TBD Condos/CommercialTBD

    The property owner must hire an engineer or architect licensed in the state of California to evaluate the strength of the building. The engineer or architect must then develop plans for the building’s seismic strengthening in compliance with this program.  The owner must notify tenants in writing per HCIDLA regulations.

    The property owner must hire an engineer or architect licensed in the state of California to evaluate the strength of the building. The engineer or architect must then develop plans for the building’s seismic strengthening in compliance with this program.  The owner must notify tenants in writing per HCIDLA regulations.

    strengthening in compliance with this program.  The owner must notify tenants in writing per HCIDLA regulations.

    A soft-story building is a structure which has a weaker first floor and is unable to carry the weight of the stories above during an earthquake. The first floor generally would have large openings in the perimeter walls such as garages, tuck under parking or even large windows.

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