Bay Cities Construction has been a California licensed contractor for more than 15 years. We pride ourselves as your learning center when considering a major construction project. Bay Cities Construction has published many articles about Soft story retrofitting in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA. You can click here to access them. Los Angeles now has the nation's toughest earthquake safety rules.
Los Angeles City Soft Story retrofit Ordinance 183893 and 184081 detail which structures are affected. You can download our compiled all you need to know which includes the ordinances.
The weakest parts of the building are structurally reinforced to be able to resist seismic movement during an earthquake. In many cases structural steel connectors and I-beams are used. In most cases glue-lam beams and steel connection hardware are used to carry strengthen the weak sections of a structure.
“What happens after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake according to the California ShakeOut Scenario?
1,800 deaths and 50,000 injuries
$213 billion of economic loss throughout SoCal
oft story retrofitting in Los Angeles and Santa Monica are no longer something that is recommended, it is now actually the Law! According to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Order to Comply Notices have been sent to property owners according to the schedule below.
Los Angeles City Soft Story retrofit Ordinance 183893 and 184081 detail which structures are affected.
Soft story structures designed and approved prior to 1979 are considered weak by current engineering standards. A considerable amount of soft story buildings were constructed between 1960 – 1979.
These structures have the propensity of experiencing catastrophically damaged in the event of a major earthquake. Soft story structures have failed during significant seismic activity. They are weak because they have un-reinforced openings on the ground floor which caused far more movement than the structure can withstand. When this happens, resulting in the upper floors COLLAPSING on top of the lower level.
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.
You can get the Property Owner’s Guide courtesy of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety as part of our free everything you need to know about soft story e-book
1. $213 billion of economic loss throughout SoCal
2. Bring the plans to the City Plan Checkers.
3. Quote the cost of construction.
4. Construction Planning
5. Construction Work
Bay Cities Construction is a California licensed Contractor. We have a team of engineers and designers that are ready work for you. This is what we offer.
We are a licensed general contractor, located in Torrance California. Our company specializes in Residential Remodeling & Seismic Retrofits
We do kitchen, bathrooms, total home remodeling, ADU's, and home additions.