Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit – City of Burbank
Compliance Deadlines (From January 10, 2025 Notice)
Burbank’s program, measured from the January 10, 2025 Notice to Comply, sets the following deadlines:
Screening Form
- January 12, 2026
Engineered Retrofit Plans
- January 11, 2027
Plan Approval
- January 10, 2028
Permit & Construction Start
- January 10, 2029
Construction Completion
- January 10, 2030
Professional Engineering, Screening Reports, Retrofit Plans & Permit Support
Burbank adopted a mandatory Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit program (Ordinance 24-4,021) to improve safety for older wood-frame residential buildings. OC Structural provides full engineering services to help owners meet all City requirements — from the first screening report to final construction approval.
Who Must Comply?
A building is subject to the ordinance if it meets all of the following:
- Wood-framed
- Two or more stories
- Built before January 1, 1978
- Ground-floor parking / garages / open fronts
- One or more soft, weak, or open-front wall lines
- Full structural assessment
- Identification of SWOF lines
- Determination of “Retrofit Required” or “Exempt”
- Engineering justification for exemption requests
- Posting guidance for required signage
Fully compliant with Burbank Seismic Design Guidelines, including:
- Lateral analysis and calculations
- Soft/weak/open-front wall strengthening design
- Diaphragm, collector, and foundation upgrades
- Cantilever column systems
- Drift checks, base-shear calculations, and irregularity assessments
- Complete structural details and material specifications
- Plan check response letters
- Structural observation forms
- Coordination with Building & Safety
- Housing and tenant-notification support
- Structural observation during key stages
- Contractor RFI support
- Final approval assistance
- 100% permit-fee refund for full compliance by July 10, 2026
- 50% refund for compliance by January 10, 2028
- Mandatory safety signage after Notice to Comply
- Posting of construction notices
- Removal of signage after final City approval
Owners may recover up to 50% of construction costs (max $51/unit/month for up to 120 months).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all buildings need to comply?
No. Only pre-1978 wood-frame residential buildings with two or more stories and ground-floor openings (parking, garages, open fronts) are included.
What is the first step?
Submitting the Screening Form by January 12, 2026. A licensed Civil or Structural Engineer must complete it.
Can my building be exempt?
Yes — but exemption must be supported by a stamped engineering assessment demonstrating the absence of soft, weak, or open-front wall lines.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
The City may record a violation and impose penalties. Extensions may be granted only with justification and a proposed schedule.
Are there financial incentives?
Yes — Burbank offers 100% and 50% permit-fee refunds depending on compliance timing.
Can retrofit costs be passed through to tenants?
Yes. Owners may recover up to 50% of construction costs as a temporary monthly surcharge.
Who can prepare the retrofit plans?
Only licensed Civil or Structural Engineers in California.
When must construction be completed?
No later than January 10, 2030.
Get Started
OC Structural handles Burbank soft-story retrofits end-to-end, screening, engineering, permitting, and construction support. Reach out for a free estimate and we’ll tell you exactly where your building stands under the ordinance.