ABOUT THIS PROJECT
There are multiple cities across the west coast that are being proactive about reducing their seismic risk. Below are summary tables of cities that have recently enacted or are developing seismic ordinances for multi-family and/or commercial buildings. A report on the status of the 1986 URM state mandate that affected many cities in California can be found in the following link. A description of some common vulnerable building types can also be found here Vulnerable Buildings Fact Sheets – Structural Engineers Association of California
For additional information regarding this subject please contact Daniel Zepeda.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
| Jurisdiction | No. of Affected Buildings | Ordinance | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beverly Hills | 300 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 2 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance indicates the following timeframes: 1- Evaluation after 180 days of notification 2- Submit Plans after 365 days of notification 3 – Building permit after 1.5 years of notification 4 – Commence construction after 2 years of notification 5 – Construction completion after 2.5 years of notification |
| 110 Reported | Non-Ductile Concrete built prior to 1977 | In Development | |
| Burbank | Unknown | Wood Soft-Story built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Submit Screening Form Jan 12, 2026 2- Submit Engineering Plans Jan 1, 2027 3- Secure Approval of Plans Jan 10, 2028 4- Secure Building Permit Jan 10, 2029 5- Complete Construction Jan 10, 2030 |
| Unknown | Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation 275 days after order 2- Permit deadline 1 year after order 3- Deadline to commence construction 545 days after order 4- 3 year deadline for construction completion after order |
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| Unknown | Welded Steel Moment Frame Buildings Prior to 1995 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Structural analysis and inspection report by a licensed structural engineer within 12 months of notice 2- If damage found, permit required within 18 months of notice 3- Complete repairs to original design level strength within 24 months of notice |
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| Unknown | Seismic Strengthening of Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage of Light, Wood-Frame Residential Buildings | Voluntary: Chapter A3 of Part 10 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the “California Existing Building Code,” which is part of the California Building Standards Code, 2022 Edition, is hereby adopted without local amendments by the City of Burbank and made a part of this Code for promoting public welfare and safety by reducing the risk of earthquake-induced damage to existing wood-frame residential buildings. [Added by Ord. No. 22-3,981, eff. 1/1/23.] |
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| Carpinteria | 14 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or more permit obtained prior to 1991 | In Development, however draft says the following: 1- Optional screening form after 6 months of notice 2- Deadline of plans and permits after 2 years of notice 3- Deadline to complete construction after 5 years of notice |
| Culver City | 448 Reported | Wood Soft-Story built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Screening report after 1 year of notification 2- Retrofit plans due 2 years after notification 3- Permit due 3 years after notification 4- Construction Commencement due 4 years after notification 5- Construction completion due 5 years after notification |
| Los Angeles County | Unknown | High Rise Non Ductile Concrete constructed pior to Nov 1, 1977 | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Submit structural evaluation report 3 years after notice 2- Submit plans for retrofit or demoloition 5 years after notice 3- Complete retrofit or demolition 20 years after notice |
| Los Angeles | 13,500 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 4 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Submit Plans after 1 year of notification 2 – Building permit after 2 years of notification 3 – Construction completion after 7 years of notification |
| 1,500 Reported | Non-Ductile Concrete built prior to 1977 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Complete and submit Non-Ductile Checklist 3 years of notif 2- Evaluation after 10 year of notification 3 – Construction completion after 25 years of notification |
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| Long Beach | Unknown | Wood Soft-Story built prior to 1995 | Voluntary, may become mandatory through long beach resiliency program |
| Unknown | Non-Ductile Concrete built prior to 1977 | Voluntary, may become mandatory through long beach resiliency program | |
| Unknown | Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms | Voluntary, may become mandatory through long beach resiliency program | |
| Unknown | Cripple Walls | Voluntary | |
| Pasadena | 500 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or permit prior to 1977 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Screening form deadline 1 year of notice 2- Retrofit plans AND permit obtainment 4 years of notice 3- Construction deadline 7 years of notice |
| Santa Monica | 34 Reported | Conc / CMU with Flex Diaph. Built prior to 1994 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 4 months of notification 2 – Building permit after 18 months of notification 3 – Construction completion after 36 months of notification |
| 1700 Reported | Wood Soft Story built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 24 months of notification 2 – Building permit after 42 months of notification 3 – Construction completion after 72 months of notification |
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| 70 Reported | Non-Ductile Concrete built prior to 1977 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 36 months of notification 2 – Building permit after 54 months of notification 3 – Construction completion after 120 months of notification |
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| 80 Reported | Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frames built prior to 1995 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 36 months of notification 2 – Building permit after 180 months of notification 3 – Construction completion after 240 months of notification |
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| Unknown | Seismic Retrofit Requirements for Cripple walls and Sill Plate Anchorage in Single-Family Dwellings | Voluntary: Appendix Chapter A3 of the California Existing Building Code 2022 Edition, entitled “Prescriptive Provisions for Seismic Strengthening Provisions of Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage of Light, Wood-Frame Residential Buildings” which adopts by reference Appendix Chapter A3 of the International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition |
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| Torrance | 1300 Reported | Wood Soft-Story built prior to August 1978 | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Screening report 1 year of notification 2- Retrofit plans 2 years of notification 3- Obtain permit 3 years of notification 4- Commence construction 4 years of notification 5- Complete construction by 5 years of notification |
| Unknown | Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Wall Anchorage System of Existing Rigid Wall Flexible Diaphragm Buildings Pre 1997 UBC | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Screening report 1 year of notification 2- Retrofit plans 2 years of notification 3- Obtain permit 3 years of notification 4- Commence construction 4 years of notification 5- Complete construction by 5 years of notific |
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| Unknown | Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Non-Ductile Concrete Structures PRE 1979 UBC | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Submit engineering report 3 years after notice 2- Submit retrofit plans 5 years after notice 3- Obtain building permit and commence construction 7 years after notice 4- Complete Major Deficiency Mitigation 10 years after notice 5- Submit complete retrofit plans 13 years after notice 6- Obtain building permit 15 years after notice 7- Complete retrofit 20 years after notice |
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| Unknown | Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frames Pre 1997 UBC | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Submit engineering report 3 years after notice 2- Submit retrofit plans 5 years after notice 3- Obtain building permit and commence construction 7 years after notice 4- Complete Major Deficiency Mitigation 10 years after notice 5- Submit complete retrofit plans 13 years after notice 6- Obtain building permit 15 years after notice 7- Complete retrofit 20 years after notice |
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| West Hollywood | 780 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 4 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 1 year of notification 2- Submit Plans after 2 years of notification 3 – Building permit after 4 years of notification 4 – Construction completion after 5 years of notification |
| 55 + (60 potential steel or concrete) Reported | Non-Ductile Concrete built prior to 1979 UBC | Ordinance approved and requires: Phase 1 – Retrofit Major Deficiencies 1- Evaluation after 3 years of notification 2 – Submit plans after 5 years of notification 3 – Obtain permit by year 7 of notification 4 – Construction completion after 10 years of notification Phase 2 – Complete Full Retrofit 5 – Submit plans after 13 years of notification 6 – Obtain permit by year 15 of notification 7 – Construction completion after 20 years of notification |
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| 31 + (60 potential steel or concrete) Reported | Pre-Northridge Steel Moment Frames built prior to 1996 Codes | Ordinance approved and requires: Phase 1 – Retrofit Major Deficiencies 1- Evaluation after 3 years of notification 2 – Submit plans after 5 years of notification 3 – Obtain permit by year 7 of notification 4 – Construction completion after 10 years of notification Phase 2 – Complete Full Retrofit 5 – Submit plans after 13 years of notification 6 – Obtain permit by year 15 of notification 7 – Construction completion after 20 years of notification |
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| Unknown | Voluntary Seismic Strengthening for Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage | Voluntary: Appendix Chapter A3 of the California Existing Building Code 2022 Edition, entitled “Prescriptive Provisions for Seismic Strengthening Provisions of Cripple Walls and Sill Plate Anchorage of Light, Wood-Frame Residential Buildings” which adopts by reference Appendix Chapter A3 of the International Existing Building Code, 2021 Edition |
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
| Jurisdiction | No. of Affected Buildings | Ordinance | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 64 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or more permitted prior to Dec 1985 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1 – Evaluation completed 1.5 years after notification |
| Unknown | All existing buildings having at least one unreinforced bearing wall | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- 4 years to obtain permit after notice 2- 180 days after permit to commence construction 3- Retrofits complete after 1 year |
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| Unknown | Voluntary earthquake hazard reductions in existing wood frame 1-2 story residential structures | Voluntary: Follow either Standard Plan A — Residential Seismic Strengthening Plan OR Chapter A3 2006 International Existing Building Code. |
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| Albany | Unknown | Wood Soft Story Permitted Prior to 1981 with 3+ Units | Ordinance approved and requires: 1- Screening form after 1 year of notice 2- Retrofit permit between 2-5 years depending on tier 3- Retrofit Completion between 3-6 years depending on tier |
| Berkeley | 327 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1 – Permit by December 31, 2016 2 – Retrofits to be completed by December 31, 2018 |
| Fremont | Unknown | Wood Soft-Story 3 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1a- 24 months to submit retrofit plans and issuance of building permit (Group I) 1b- 36 months to submit retrofit plans and issuance of building permit (Group 2) 2a- 48 months to complete retrofit (Group I) 2b- 60 months to complete retrofit (Group II) |
| Unknown | Tilt-Up and Reinforced Masonry Buildings with Flexible Diaphragms build prior to 1976 UBC | Approved and in effect: Dates vary depending on rating classification 1- Submittal of engineered plans and issuance of building permit within 1.5, 1.5, 2, 4, 4, 12 years of notice 2- Completion of construction within 3, 4, 5, 8, 8, 14 years of notice |
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| Hayward | Unknown | Soft-Story built or permitted prior to 1979 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Mandatory screening either 12 or 18 months after notification depending on compliance tier 2- Voluntary seismic retrofit |
| Mill Valley | Unknown | Wood Soft story using 1976 UBC or prior code | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Screening form submitted after 1 year of notice 2- Retrofit permit 2-5 years after permit (depending on tier) 3- Construction complete 1 year after permit |
| Mountain View | 488 | Soft-Story built or permitted prior to 1978 | Ordinance In development |
| Oakland | 1,380 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or more built prior to 1991 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Complete evaluation and submit compliance 2- Obtain retrofit permit or submit target story evaluation report 3- Complete retrofit Structures defines as Tier 1 (20+ units), Tier 2 (5-19 units), and Tier 3 (not T1 or T2). Tier 1 steps taking 2,3, & 4 years respectively. Tier 2: 3,4, & 5 years Tier 3: 4,5, & 6 years |
| Palo Alto | 294 Reported | Wood Soft-Story | Ordinance In development |
| San Francisco | 4,956 Reported | Wood Soft-Story 5 units or more built prior to 1978 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Evaluation after 1 year from operative date 2- Submit Plans 2 years to 5 years from operative date 3 – Construction completion 4 to 7 years from operative date |
| Unknown | Rigid Wall Flexible Diaphragm and NDC Concrete | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Owners submit engineering screening reports within 18 months of ordinance |
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| San Jose | 3,500 Reported | Soft-Story 3 units or more built prior to 1990 | Ordinance is approved and requires: 1- Screening deadline Oct 1, 2027 2- Design, permit, and construction phase deadlines between April 2031 and April 2033 depending on building risk |
Pacific Northwest
| Jurisdiction | No. of Affected Buildings | Ordinance | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 1670 Reported | URM Buildings | Ordinance approved and requires: 1-Retrofit tied to remodel requiring compliance with codes 2- Mandates placards to indicate if a building is URM |
| Seattle | 1150 Reported | URM Buildings | Voluntary retrofit. Future mandatory ordinance likely. |
*Last updated Sept. 4, 2025
