How to Comply with the Seismic Retrofit Program

If you own a property with a building that has been identified by the City as potentially seismically vulnerable, this page will help you navigate the process for achieving compliance with the Seismic Retrofit Program's requirements within the required compliance timeframe (see Seismic Retrofit Ordinance Compliance and Noticing Schedule). You can also view or Retrofit Guide to Compliance handout.

Is your building on the list?

Use our tools below to determine whether a property has been identified as containing a building that may be potentially seismically vulnerable.

Explore our searchable map; or
View the City's Open Data site for listing of properties (available for download).

Jump to Section:

Online

All information for successfully completing the seismic retrofit process can be found online. Please follow the steps below to comply with the Program.

Exempt from Program?
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If a property on the City's Seismic Retrofit list is believed to be exempt from the Seismic Retrofit Program for any reason (e.g. prior retrofit, year of construction, not a hazardous building type, etc.), email a Request for Reconsideration to the Building and Safety Division at seismic@santamonica.gov.
The submission will be reviewed by an engineer to determine if the property can be removed from the Seismic Retrofit list or not based on the information provided.
Structural Analysis
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If the building is not exempt from the Seismic Retrofit Program, hire an architect or engineer (civil or structural) licensed by the State of California. This licensed professional will perform a structural analysis of the building to evaluate if it meets State and local minimum earthquake standards.
Submit Structural Analysis to City
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Submit completed structural analysis to the Building and Safety Division for review to: seismic@santamonica.gov. If the structural analysis finds that the building does not meet the minimum earthquake standards, then the building is required to be retrofitted.
If the structural analysis finds that the building does meet the minimum earthquake standards, and the City approves this determination, then the building is removed from the Seismic Retrofit list and no further action is required by the property owner.
Submit for Plan Review
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Upon determination that a building retrofit is required, submit a building permit application along with related documents (e.g. plans, structural calculations) to the City's Electronic Plan Review system. You can find step-by-step instructions on how to submit for plan review here.
Obtain Building Permit
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Once seismic retrofit plans have been reviewed and approved by City staff, a building permit must be issued for construction. Upon completion of retrofit work, the City Inspector's final inspection approval on the associated building permit is the official verification that compliance with the City's Seismic Retrofit Program has been achieved.

FAQ

How do I know if my building is included in the program?

Notices were mailed to all property owners of buildings identified by the City as potentially seismically vulnerable. The City has also prepared a list of buildings included in the program that will be required to complete a structural analysis. Inclusion of a building on the list is not confirmation that the building is structurally deficient, hazardous, or unsafe.

To verify if your property is included, explore our searchable map.

What are the compliance deadlines for my building?

Please review this table of all seismic deadlines for all hazardous building types.

Does being on the List mean that my building is hazardous or vulnerable?

No. Appearance on the List is the result of the City’s best analysis in identifying the building in one of the five major hazardous building categories. Appearance on the List does not necessarily mean that your building is unsafe, or will require retrofit.

Who can complete a Structural Evaluation for me?

A California licensed civil or structural engineer or registered architect must perform the structural analysis. Their subsequent report must report the findings and deficiencies of the building and their recommendation for a retrofit. These professionals may be found through several professional and government resources:

Registered Professional Licensed Engineers: http://bpelsg.ca.gov

Registered Architects: http://cab.ca.gov

Structural Engineering Association of So Cal: http://www.seaosc.org/Find-an-Engineer

If the Structural Evaluation determines that a Retrofit is not required, am I done?

The Evaluation still must be submitted to Building and Safety for review at seismic@santamonica.gov. If the Building Officer confirms that a Retrofit is not required, the City will issue you a letter acknowledging that your building is in compliance. At this time, no further work is required related to the retrofit program requirements.

Will I get verification from the City after I complete the Seismic Retrofit of my building?

No. The permit that is issued by the City for seismic retrofit work must receive a final inspection from a City Building Inspector. If the Inspector approves the work, he or she will provide final sign-off on the project. The retrofit permit with final signature is the official document verifying compliance with the Seismic Retrofit Ordinance, so please retain it for your records. All property information in the City’s database will identify the property as being compliant with the 2017 Seismic Retrofit Program as well.

My building was retrofitted soon after the 1994 earthquake, so I submitted a Request for Reconsideration form to the City. My request was not approved because the retrofit of my building utilized a “pole structure.” What does that mean?

Pole structure retrofit designs were used fairly frequently after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. However, they were not explicitly defined in the building codes at that time as being retrofits that resists the side-to-side movement of a building during an earthquake. It is this side-to-side movement in an earthquake that is hazardous to soft story buildings, which is why the City does not exempt this type of retrofit design from the requirements of the Seismic Retrofit Program. Pole structure designs are distinctly recognizable as a round or square hollow steel post/column extending vertically from the floor of the parking area and attaching to the wood frame of the unit directly above it. This steel post is secured to the ground by a rectangular concrete pad/footing that is clearly distinguishable from the surrounding concrete. Pole structure designs vary greatly, but please view this example of a basic pole structure design for an idea of what it looks like.

How do I submit for plan review?

The City of Santa Monica's plan review is 100% paperless and occurs entirely online. Step-by-step instructions on how to submit can be found here.

Jump to Section:

Continue the Process:

Exempt from Program?

Structural Analysis

Submit Structural Analysis to City

Submit for Plan Review

Obtain Building Permit