Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit – City of West Hollywood
Overview
The City of West Hollywood officially implemented a seismic retrofit program on April 17, 2017. This program was created to reduce earthquake-related risks and improve life safety for occupants of commercial and multifamily buildings throughout the city. Ordinance 17-1004 outlines the mandatory requirements for strengthening existing wood-frame buildings that have soft, weak, or open-front walls. It also includes requirements related to cripple walls and sill plate anchorage in older wood-frame structures. The ordinance went into effect on April 1, 2018.
- Priority I: Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units
- Priority II: Buildings with 3 or more stories and fewer than 16 dwelling units
- Priority III: Buildings that do not fall under Priority I or Priority II
Milestones
Beverly Hills sorted affected buildings into three tiers, each with its own deadline schedule:
Begin Process
Notice of the program is served to the building owner
1 Year After Notice
Deadline to submit the screening report
2 Years After Notice
Deadline to submit retrofit plans
4 Years After Notice
Deadline to obtain permits and begin construction
5 Years After Notice
Deadline to complete the retrofit construction
- 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
Does every older building in West Hollywood need a retrofit?
No. The ordinance applies to wood-frame buildings with soft, weak, or open-front wall conditions, typically multi-story structures with tuck-under parking or large ground-floor openings. The screening report is what confirms whether your specific building requires retrofit.
What’s the first step?
A screening report prepared by a California-licensed Civil or Structural Engineer. This must be submitted within 1 year of your Notice.
Can my building be exempt?
Possibly. The screening report evaluates whether your building meets the SWOF criteria or whether a prior retrofit already satisfies current requirements.
Who’s allowed to prepare the screening report and retrofit plans?
California-licensed Civil or Structural Engineers.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
The City can issue fines, pursue enforcement actions, and record violations against the property. Extensions are limited and must be justified.
Are there tenant protections I need to be aware of?
Yes. West Hollywood has a rent stabilization program and specific rules governing tenant notification and habitability during construction. Work with the City’s Rent Stabilization Division for the current requirements that apply to your project.
Under which priority group does my building fall?
Priority I covers buildings with 16 or more dwelling units. Priority II covers buildings with 3 or more stories and fewer than 16 units. Priority III covers everything else that qualifies under the ordinance.
Get Started
Whether you’ve just received a Notice from West Hollywood or you want to get ahead of the program, OC Structural manages the full engineering scope, screening, retrofit design, permit coordination, and construction support. Reach out for a free consultation and we’ll tell you exactly where your building stands.