Navigating Los Angeles Seismic Retrofit Ordinances
For commercial and multifamily property owners in Los Angeles, understanding seismic safety laws is not optional; it's mandatory. The City of Los Angeles has enacted stringent seismic retrofit ordinances to protect vulnerable structures from earthquake damage, making compliance crucial for property owners and HOAs to safeguard lives, avoid fines, and preserve their investments.
These ordinances specifically target soft-story wood-frame buildings and non-ductile concrete structures, both of which have historically performed poorly in seismic events.
The key ordinances include 183893 & 184081 for soft-story retrofits, which involve a compliance timeline spanning up to seven years for construction completion, and Ordinance 183894 for non-ductile concrete buildings, with a longer 25-year completion window due to project complexity. Non-compliance can lead to penalties and issues with insurance and lending. Given the high demand for contractors and engineers, acting sooner rather than later can prevent increased costs and tighter deadlines.
