Los Angeles
Beverly Hills
Santa Monica
West Hollywood
Pasadena
Culver City
Los Angeles Soft Story Retrofit Ordinances
Ordinance Ordinance 183893 and Ordinance 184081
From the receipt of the Order to Comply:
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2 years: Submit proof of previous retrofit, or plans to retrofit or demolish
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3.5 years: Obtain permit to start construction or demolition
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7 years: Complete construction
Los Angeles automatically gave extensions to property owners due to Covid-19 and is sending letters with new dates. If your mailing address has changed, it may be a good idea to check with the building department.
You can check the city database of when your order to comply was sent.
Click the button below and type the number in the first box and street in second of your building address. Then click the drop down on the bottom that says Soft Story. You can call Zebra and we can check for you too!
Soft-Story Retrofit Unit
201 N. Figueroa St, 8th floor, Suite 890
(213) 482-7638
(213) 202-9924
Soft-storyretrofit@lacity.org
LA City Housing Resources
Tenant Habitability Plan
The Tenant Habitability plan which is commonly referred to as THP is created to let tenants know what will happen during construction. We are required to give tenants all required documents. One document required is an appeal form. The tenant has a right to appeal the plan. In this case a hearing date will be set, and construction will be delayed until a decision by the city is reached. Since this work is mandatory, the city usually rules in favor of the owner if all of the work is going to be outside of the building.
We can attend any hearings for or with the property owner.
Cost Recovery
Cost Recovery is a Rent Pass through, where property owners can charge up to 50% of the retrofit costs to the tenants. They can charge up to $38 per month/unit to tenants over a 10 year period.
Documents needed for cost recovery application:
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Contracts with Engineer and Contractor
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Invoices from Project (Contractor, Engineer, Deputy Inspectors)
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Receipts from Project (Plan Check, Permit)
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Accepted Tenant Habitability Plan
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Declaration of Service
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Rent Roll which was given with THP + Move in Dates
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Cancelled Checks (Proof of Payment)
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Ok for C of C or Certificate of Compliance
Tenant Habitability Plan Unit
(213) 252-1464
hcidla.code.seismic@lacity.org
Cost Recovery Applications
& RSO Information
(866) 557- 7368
HCIDLA.RSO@LACity.org
Beverly Hills Soft Story Retrofit Ordinance
Ordinance 18-O-2767
Screening Form
6 Months from Date of Notice to Comply Date
Submit Screening Form to Community Development Department
Engineering Plans
1 Year from Date of Notice to Comply Date
Submit retrofit plans and documents to Community Development Department
Building Permit
2 Years from Date of Notice to Comply Date
Building Permit (Building permit will expire if work does not commence within 12 months from building permit issuance date)
Complete Construction
3 Years from Date of Notice to Comply Date
Complete Construction & Get Final Inspection Approval
Means and Methods Plan for Tenant Protection During Construction
A Means and Methods Plan must be submitted to the Rent Stabilization Division. It must be approved within ten (10) days following the issuance of the permit and that no work will commence under the permit until ten (10) days after all tenants are notified. The Means and Methods Plan notice must be either hand delivered to each tenant of the property or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Rent Stabilization Division
455 N. Rexford Dr., Room 200
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 285-1031
Santa Monica Soft Story Retrofit Ordinance
Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapters 8.58, 8.60, 8.64, 8.72, 8.76, and 8.80 Collectively known as Seismic Retrofit Ordinance
From the receipt of the Notification Letter:
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Evaluation Report 4 Months - 3 Years (See Below)
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Submittal of Plans: 6 Months-3 Years (See Below)
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Building Permit: Expires if work doesn't begin within 6 months
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Complete construction: 2 Years - 20 Years
Building & Safety Division
1685 Main St #111
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8355
seismic@smgov.net
Means and Methods Plan
A Means and Methods Plan must be submitted with Retrofit plans for approval. Noticing should happen at least 2 weeks before construcition begins.
West Hollywood Soft Story Retrofit Ordinances
Ordinance 17-1004 and Ordinance 17-1011
From the receipt of the Notification Letter:
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1 Year - Screening Report
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2 Years - Submit Retrofit Plans
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4 Years- Permit & Construction (Building Permit Expires if work doesn't begin within 6 months)
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5 Years- Final Construction City Approval
Building & Safety Division
8300 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 848-6848
Tenant Habitability Plan
A Tenant Habitability Plan Must be Submitted and then served to tenants with a construction notice before any construction begins.
Pasadena Soft Story Retrofit Ordinances
Ordinance 7345
From the receipt of the Notification Letter:
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1 Year - Screening Report
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3 Years - Submit Retrofit Plans & Obtain Building Permit
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7 Years- Final Construction City Approval
Questions about building status on city soft story list you can email city of Pasadena at:
Culver City Story Retrofit Ordinances
Ordinance 2021-013
From the receipt of the Notification Letter:
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1 Year - Screening Report
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2 Years- Submit Retrofit Plans
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3 Years - Obtain Building Permit
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4 Years - Commence Construction
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5 Years- Final Construction City Approval
Most of the guidelines set for Seismic Building Codes are set in Southern California. Many Seaoc committee members have helped write the ordinances in each municipality.
Kevin and Michelle of Zebra Construction are both active in the Seaoc community and attend events regularly to keep up to date on new engineering and construction methods and technology.
Mohammad Tajvidi, PE, Michelle Durey & Kevin Fanta
Engineers
A lot of companies claim to have "In House Engineering", but they are probably subcontracting to a large firm. Make sure you know who is actually "stamping" your plans. Some companies with in house engineering over-design so that the construction costs more. We will never over-design a project, and will give our opinion if something is over-designed and help you re-engineer it for a discounted cost.
You can check an engineering license online at Department of Consumer Affairs
Some of the Engineers who's plans Kevin and Michelle have experience building, that they would recommend.
Mohammad "Moe" Tajvidi PE 84559
Moe is a licensed civil engineer. Moe earned his Masters in Structural Engineering at the University of Tehran, and then his PhD in Engineering Education at the University of Utah. Mohammad is a teacher and has a creative approach to each project.
Moe has experience in all municipalities Zebra Construction services and is Zebra's first engineer we recommend.
John Labib & Associates (David Funk SE 69391)
John Labib + Associates (JLA) is a Consulting Engineering Firm that offers Structural, Shoring, and Civil Engineering Design Services. Since opening its’ doors in 2003, JLA has continuously honed its’ versatility, priding itself on being service-oriented and construction cost-conscious. Over 70 engineers on their staff. This company does a lot of retrofitting plans for design build companies.
Pacific Engineering & Risk Consulting Group
Wenzhou "Jack" Ding has experience in reducing the scope of work for soft story retrofit engineering plans which reduces construction cost for owners. He has a straightforward approach and will go the extra mile to be sure you are getting the most economical design.
AZAR Consulting Engineering (Hamid Azarbin, PE 64515)
Hamid has a lot of experience in Soft Story Retrofitting. He was one of the first engineers at the city of Los Angeles to submit a set of plans with the new ordinance. He is detail oriented and will create a plan that is easy and cost effective to build.
Zenith Engineers (Senthil Puliyadi, M.S., M.E., P.E.)
Zenith has completed hundreds of retrofit projects in Northern and Southern California. We have worked with them on several projects and highly recommend them for complex projects.
Deputy Inspectors
By Law these must be hired and paid by the owner. A deputy inspector is a 3rd party inspector, who does not work for the city or the contractor to be sure all plans and specifications are being followed. They will give a report to the contractor which must be provided to the city inspector at each inspection.
You can also use a company which dispatches deputy inspectors.
Mesa Inspections
229 W Bonita Ave #2E
San Dimas, CA 91773
Abrahams Inspections
(310) 930-4252
John Lorenzo Deputy Inspections
www.deputyinspectorlorenzo.com
The final type of deputy you will need is a UT inspector. Fransen can service all areas.
Fransen Inspection Technology
(714) 642-5842