Long Beach Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit

Long Beach is rolling out a Building Seismic Resiliency Program to address thousands of older wood-frame residential units that may have Soft, Weak, or Open-Front (SWOF) wall conditions. If the City has sent you an Initial Notification Letter, your building has been flagged for screening, and you have a limited window to respond. OC Structure Check handles the licensed structural engineering side of the program, from the required screening forms through retrofit design and final City sign-off.

The Long Beach Program at a Glance

The City of Long Beach is identifying older wood-frame buildings with potential SWOF conditions, the classic “soft-story” configuration where tuck-under parking or large ground-floor openings leave the lowest level without enough lateral strength to resist earthquake forces. Owners of flagged buildings are required to have a licensed engineer screen the property and respond using the City’s official forms (Form 062 and, where applicable, Form 063).

The program is currently in its inventory and outreach phase. The City is actively updating its approach, and screening your building is the first step, seismic strengthening is strongly encouraged now and may become formally required as the program develops.

Does Your Building Qualify?

A property is part of the program if it meets all of these criteria:

• Wood-frame construction
• Built before January 1, 1978
• Two or more stories
• Has tuck-under parking or large ground-floor openings
• One or more floors located above an open floor line
• Identified by the City as a potential SWOF building

If you received a Notice from Long Beach, your property is officially in the inventory and a response is expected.

The Deadline That Matters

Deadlines don’t start from when the ordinance began, they start from the date printed on your Initial Notification Letter.

The Three-Step Compliance Process

1. Soft-Story Screening (Form 062)

This is the first mandatory step. A licensed engineer inspects the building and submits Form 062 to confirm whether the property is truly a SWOF building, whether previous strengthening has already resolved the condition, and whether the City’s inventory details need to be corrected. If the engineer determines the building qualifies for removal from the inventory, either because it was already adequately strengthened or doesn’t meet the SWOF definition, Form 063 (Request for Removal) is prepared and submitted. If the building isn’t removed, it proceeds to full retrofit design.

2. Retrofit Engineering Plan Set

When strengthening is required, a complete engineered plan set is submitted to Long Beach Development Services. The plan set typically covers:

• Site plan and floor plans
• SWOF identification and justification
• Lateral load path evaluation
• Shear wall and moment frame design
• Foundation analysis and upgrades
• Diaphragm evaluation
• Collector and drag strut detailing
• Material and hardware specifications
• Complete structural calculations
• All City-required notes and submittal items

3. Permit, Construction, and Final Approval

After the City approves the plans, the contractor pulls the permit, pre-construction coordination takes place, and the structural observation requirements are set. During construction, the engineer performs observation visits at key stages, responds to contractor RFIs, and coordinates with the City inspector. Once work is complete, the City performs a final inspection, issues sign-off, and the building is listed as “retrofit completed.”

How OC Structure Check Supports Your Project

Screening and Form Preparation

Field inspection of the building, engineering evaluation of SWOF conditions, and completion of Form 062 and Form 063 where applicable. Documentation stamped and signed by a California-licensed Structural Engineer (CA #S5905).

Retrofit Plan Sets

Complete engineered designs prepared for Long Beach Development Services review, including lateral analysis, wall strengthening, foundation upgrades, diaphragm design, collector and drag strut detailing, and all supporting calculations.

Permit Coordination

Plan-check response letters, coordination with Long Beach Development Services, and structural observation commitments.

Construction Support

On-site structural observation at key stages, RFI responses for the contractor, and support through final inspection and permit close-out.

Why Property Owners Work With Us

• Licensed Structural Engineer. All reports stamped and signed by a California-licensed Structural Engineer (CA #S5905) and Civil Engineer (CA #C71491).
• Twenty-plus years of Southern California experience. Over 2,000 structural assessments across the region.
• Direct engineer access. You work with the engineer on the project, not a salesperson.
• Stamped reports for any legal or City purpose. Documentation that meets City submittal, lender, and legal requirements.
• Fast turnaround. The 360-day Form 062 deadline is tight, we move quickly once we have site access.

Frequently Asked Questions

I received a letter from the City. What does it mean?

Long Beach has identified your building as a potential Soft, Weak, or Open-Front (SWOF) building. The letter asks you to confirm the City’s information and, if needed, consider strengthening the property.

Does that mean my building is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. It means the building may be more vulnerable to earthquake damage than newer structures or buildings that have already been strengthened. The screening step is how you find out where your property actually stands.

Is “SWOF” the same as “soft-story”? 

Yes. SWOF buildings are what most people call soft-story buildings, typically older wood-frame apartments with tuck-under parking or large ground-floor openings and residential units above.

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

If you received an Initial Notification Letter from the City referencing SWOF or soft-story conditions, your property is in the inventory and you’re expected to respond using the City’s forms.

What’s Form 062? 

The Soft-Story Screening Form. A licensed engineer completes it to confirm the City’s information, indicate whether previous strengthening has already been done, and help the City finalize its SWOF inventory.

What’s Form 063? 

The Request for Removal Form. It’s prepared and signed by a licensed design professional when the building has already been properly strengthened or doesn’t actually meet the SWOF definition. If accepted, the building is removed from the inventory.

Is retrofit mandatory in Long Beach right now? 

The City is currently in the inventory and outreach phase. Responding to the Notice and completing the screening is required. Actual seismic strengthening is strongly encouraged and may become formally required as the program develops.

What if my building needs retrofit? 

The next steps are: a licensed engineer prepares a retrofit plan set, the plans are submitted to the City for review and permit, and a contractor completes the work with engineering and City inspections along the way. We handle the engineering side of all of it.

How long does the process take? 

Screening alone (Form 062) usually takes days to a few weeks after the site visit. Full retrofit design takes several weeks depending on building size and complexity. Construction varies with contractor and scope. We can provide specific timelines after reviewing your building and Notice letter.

Can you review my Notice letter and tell me what to do next? 

Yes. Send us a copy of your Notice or Initial Notification Letter and we’ll explain what the City is asking for, confirm which forms apply, and outline a proposed scope.

Get Started

Whether you’ve just received a Notice from Long Beach or you want to get ahead of the program proactively, OC Structure Check can evaluate your building and prepare the engineering documentation needed for City compliance. Reach out to request a consultation and we’ll tell you exactly what your building needs.