Updated: December 2025
*AAA Engineering Design: California PE Licensed | 20+ Years Experience | 200+ Retrofit Projects | Free Consultations*
Multi-family seismic retrofit in Long Beach is no longer optional for many building owners—it's a mandatory requirement under the city's seismic retrofit ordinance targeting vulnerable soft-story and pre-Northridge construction. Our licensed Professional Engineers (PE) with over 20 years of combined experience have completed 200+ seismic retrofit projects throughout Los Angeles County, helping multi-family property owners meet compliance deadlines while optimizing costs. With Long Beach's retrofit ordinance in full enforcement, property owners face real consequences for non-compliance including daily fines, restricted property transfers, and insurance complications.
Long Beach's diverse building stock—from historic downtown apartments to 1960s garden-style complexes—presents varying retrofit challenges. Whether you own a 4-unit building in Belmont Shore or a 50-unit complex in North Long Beach, understanding your retrofit requirements is essential for protecting both your tenants and your investment.
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What Is Multi-Family Seismic Retrofit?
**Direct Answer:** Multi-family seismic retrofit is the structural strengthening of apartment buildings, condominiums, and multi-unit housing to improve earthquake performance. In California, retrofits typically address soft-story conditions (weak first floors), inadequate foundation connections, and non-ductile concrete frames using steel moment frames, plywood shearwalls, foundation bolting, and cripple wall bracing. Licensed Professional Engineers design these systems to meet current California Building Code seismic standards.
Common multi-family retrofit elements include:
- **Soft-story strengthening**: Steel frames or plywood walls at ground level
- **Foundation connections**: Anchor bolts and hold-downs
- **Cripple wall bracing**: Short wood stud walls below first floor
- **Concrete strengthening**: Carbon fiber or steel jacketing
- **Collector and drag strut addition**: Load path completion
Long Beach's ordinance specifically targets wood-frame soft-story buildings that pose the greatest collapse risk. Our structural engineering services include complete retrofit design and construction support.
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What Are Long Beach's Seismic Retrofit Requirements?
**Direct Answer:** Long Beach's seismic retrofit ordinance requires owners of soft-story buildings (3+ stories with ground-floor parking or commercial space) to complete structural retrofits by specified deadlines. The city maintains a mandatory retrofit list, issues compliance notices, and enforces escalating penalties for non-compliance including daily fines up to $1,000+ and restrictions on property transfers.
Buildings Subject to Ordinance
**Mandatory Retrofit Criteria:**
- Wood-frame construction
- Three or more stories
- Ground floor with:
- Open parking (tuck-under)
- Commercial space with large openings
- Other soft-story conditions
- Built before 1978 (typically)
**Exemptions:**
- Buildings with prior retrofits meeting current standards
- Structures with demonstrated adequate lateral resistance
- Buildings scheduled for demolition (with proof)
Compliance Timeline
**Long Beach Soft-Story Program:** | Phase | Building Type | Deadline Status | |-------|--------------|-----------------| | Phase 1 | 16+ units | Deadlines passed | | Phase 2 | 7-15 units | Deadlines passed | | Phase 3 | 3-6 units | Some approaching |
**Current Status (2025):** Many Long Beach soft-story buildings are now past their compliance deadlines. Properties in non-compliance face active enforcement. Contact the Long Beach Building Department for your specific building's status.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
**Enforcement Actions:**
- Daily fines ($100-$1,000+ per day)
- Public posting of non-compliance
- Recorded notice on property title
- Restrictions on tenant occupancy changes
- Insurance and lending complications
- Personal liability exposure for owners
> 📞 **Received Compliance Notice?** We provide rapid response engineering. > **Call (949) 981-4448** | **Request Retrofit Assessment →**
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What Types of Multi-Family Buildings Need Retrofit in Long Beach?
**Direct Answer:** Long Beach's diverse housing stock includes several building types commonly requiring retrofit: 1950s-1970s tuck-under apartment buildings, dingbat apartments with ground-floor parking, older courtyard buildings with unreinforced masonry, and post-war garden apartments with open carports. Each type presents distinct structural conditions requiring tailored engineering approaches.
Tuck-Under Apartment Buildings
**Characteristics:**
- 2-4 stories
- Ground floor parking beneath residential units
- Large garage door openings
- Minimal shearwalls at ground level
- Built 1950s-1970s predominantly
**Retrofit Approach:**
- Steel moment frames in parking area
- New plywood shearwalls where possible
- Enhanced foundation connections
- Collector straps at floor diaphragms
**Long Beach Prevalence:** Very common in Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights, Alamitos Beach, and downtown areas.
Dingbat Apartments
**Characteristics:**
- Boxy 2-3 story design
- Ground floor entirely parking
- Minimal architectural ornamentation
- Built 1950s-1960s
- 4-12 units typical
**Retrofit Challenges:**
- Limited parking space for steel frames
- Maintaining parking capacity during retrofit
- Minimal existing lateral system
- Often deferred maintenance issues
**Long Beach Prevalence:** Found throughout central Long Beach neighborhoods.
Garden-Style Apartments
**Characteristics:**
- 2-3 stories
- Open carports adjacent to buildings
- Multiple buildings per property
- Courtyard or landscaped common areas
- Built 1960s-1970s
**Retrofit Considerations:**
- Multiple buildings increase scope
- Carport retrofits may be included
- Site drainage coordination
- Phased construction for tenant access
Historic/Older Construction
**Characteristics:**
- Built pre-1940
- Unreinforced masonry (URM) in some cases
- Unique construction methods
- Preservation concerns
- Often in historic districts
**Long Beach Examples:**
- Downtown historic apartments
- East Village Arts District buildings
- Pine Avenue corridor structures
**Retrofit Approach:**
- URM anchorage and bracing
- Preservation-sensitive methods
- Historic review compliance
- Seismic-resistant connections
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How Does the Multi-Family Retrofit Process Work?
**Direct Answer:** Multi-family seismic retrofit in Long Beach follows a 12-20 week timeline from initial assessment through permit-ready plans, with construction requiring an additional 4-12 weeks depending on building size. The process includes screening assessment, detailed engineering analysis, construction document preparation, City of Long Beach plan check, and construction phase support.
Phase 1: Screening Assessment (Week 1)
**Initial Evaluation:**
- Building type and construction era
- Number of stories and units
- Ground floor configuration
- Existing lateral system
- Previous modifications or retrofits
**Ordinance Status:**
- Compliance deadline verification
- Enforcement status check
- Required timeline confirmation
- Penalty assessment if applicable
Phase 2: Detailed Investigation (Weeks 2-3)
**Site Investigation:**
- Foundation type and condition
- Existing framing and connections
- As-built documentation
- Concealed condition exposure (if needed)
- Soil report review (if available)
**Structural Analysis:**
- Existing building capacity calculation
- Seismic demand determination
- Deficiency identification
- Retrofit strategy selection
Phase 3: Design Development (Weeks 4-8)
**Retrofit Design:**
- Preliminary layout options
- Cost comparison of alternatives
- Owner consultation on approach
- Tenant impact minimization
- Detailed calculations
Common Retrofit Systems:
| System | Application | Cost Range | |--------|------------|------------| | Steel moment frames | Parking areas, large openings | $$$ | | Plywood shearwalls | Where parking can be reduced | $$ | | Steel knee braces | Limited frame installations | $$ | | Foundation bolting | All retrofit projects | $ |
Phase 4: Construction Documents (Weeks 9-12)
**Permit-Ready Plans Include:**
- Structural retrofit plans
- Steel frame details
- Foundation and anchor details
- Connection details
- Special inspection requirements
- Contractor specifications
Phase 5: Permit and Construction (Weeks 13-20+)
**City of Long Beach Plan Check:**
- Initial review: 2-4 weeks
- Corrections: 1-2 weeks if needed
- Permit issuance upon approval
**Construction Phase:**
- Contractor bidding (if desired)
- Pre-construction coordination
- Retrofit installation: 4-12 weeks
- Special inspections
- Final sign-off
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How Much Does Multi-Family Retrofit Cost in Long Beach?
**Direct Answer (2025 Pricing):** Multi-family seismic retrofit in Long Beach typically costs $15,000-$35,000 per unit for soft-story buildings, with per-unit costs decreasing for larger buildings. A 10-unit building commonly runs $150,000-$250,000 total, including engineering ($15,000-$25,000) and construction ($135,000-$225,000). Costs vary significantly based on existing conditions, retrofit approach, and parking preservation requirements.
Engineering Design Fees
**Long Beach Multi-Family:**
- 4-8 units: $12,000-$18,000
- 9-16 units: $18,000-$28,000
- 17-30 units: $25,000-$40,000
- 30+ units: $40,000-$75,000+
**Included Services:**
- Screening assessment
- Detailed investigation
- Structural calculations
- Construction documents
- Plan check support
- Construction observation
Construction Costs
**Per Unit Cost Ranges:** | Building Type | Low Range | High Range | |--------------|-----------|------------| | Soft-story (10-15 units) | $15,000/unit | $25,000/unit | | Soft-story (16-30 units) | $12,000/unit | $22,000/unit | | Soft-story (30+ units) | $10,000/unit | $18,000/unit | | URM buildings | $25,000/unit | $50,000+/unit |
Example: Long Beach 16-Unit Building - 3-story tuck-under apartment - Belmont Shore location - Steel moment frame solution - Engineering: $22,000-$28,000 - Permit fees: $3,000-$5,000 - Construction: $200,000-$280,000 - Total: $225,000-$313,000 - Per unit: $14,000-$19,500
Cost Factors
**What Increases Costs:**
- Maintaining full parking capacity
- Poor existing conditions
- Limited access
- Historic preservation requirements
- Concealed damage discovered
- Accelerated timeline
**What Reduces Costs:**
- Larger building size (economy of scale)
- Allowing some parking reduction
- Good existing conditions
- Early planning (avoiding rush fees)
- Experienced retrofit contractor
> 📞 **Need Retrofit Cost Estimate?** We provide detailed budgets. > **Call (949) 981-4448** | **Request Retrofit Quote →**
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What Are Tenant Rights and Owner Obligations During Retrofit?
**Direct Answer:** California law and Long Beach regulations establish tenant protections during seismic retrofits including advance notice requirements, relocation assistance for displacement exceeding 30 days, rent control protections, and limits on pass-through of retrofit costs. Property owners must provide written notice before work begins and comply with all habitability requirements throughout construction.
Tenant Notification Requirements
**Required Notices:**
- 30-day advance notice of construction start
- Description of work to be performed
- Expected duration and schedule
- Contact information for questions
- Tenant rights information
Relocation Provisions
**When Required:**
- Work renders unit temporarily uninhabitable
- Displacement exceeds 30 days
- Safety concerns during construction
- Utility interruptions affecting habitability
**Owner Obligations:**
- Reasonable relocation assistance
- Return rights at same rent
- Moving cost assistance (in some cases)
- Temporary housing coordination
Cost Pass-Through Limitations
**Long Beach Rent Control Considerations:**
- Seismic retrofit costs may be passed through
- LBHD regulations limit monthly increases
- Capital improvement petition process
- Tenant response rights
**Non-Rent-Controlled Properties:**
- No statutory pass-through limits
- Market considerations apply
- Lease terms govern
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What Long Beach Property Owners Say About Our Retrofit Services
> "We received our compliance notice with only 6 months to deadline. AAA Engineering fast-tracked our design and we completed retrofit with 3 weeks to spare. Professional and responsive throughout." > — **Carlos M., Long Beach Property Owner (12 units)**
> "AAA helped us evaluate three different retrofit approaches for our Belmont Shore building. Their analysis saved us $40,000 by identifying a hybrid solution we hadn't considered." > — **Investment Properties LLC, Long Beach (18 units)**
**Our Long Beach Track Record:**
- 🏠 **75+ retrofit projects** in Long Beach and LA County
- ⏱️ **Average permit timeline:** 3-4 weeks
- ⭐ **4.9/5 Google rating** from Los Angeles area clients
- 🔄 **98% on-time completion rate** for compliance deadlines
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Why Choose AAA Engineering Design for Long Beach Multi-Family Retrofit?
**Direct Answer:** AAA Engineering Design provides California PE-licensed seismic retrofit engineering with 200+ completed projects throughout Los Angeles County, including 75+ in Long Beach and surrounding cities. Our understanding of Long Beach Building Department requirements, soft-story ordinance compliance, and cost-effective retrofit solutions helps property owners meet deadlines while optimizing their investment.
Retrofit Specialization
**Our Experience Includes:**
- Soft-story apartment retrofits
- Dingbat building strengthening
- URM building retrofits
- Mixed-use building compliance
- Historic preservation retrofits
Comprehensive Retrofit Services
**We Provide:**
- Compliance assessment
- Engineering design
- Cost estimating
- Plan check support
- Contractor coordination
- Construction observation
The Right Fit for Multi-Family Retrofit
| Challenge | Large Firms | Solo Practitioners | AAA Engineering | |-----------|-------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Retrofit volume | ✅ Many projects | ⚠️ Few projects | ✅ 200+ projects | | Response time | ❌ Weeks | ⚠️ Variable | ✅ Same-day | | Cost efficiency | ❌ Premium | ✅ Lower | ✅ Optimized design | | LB expertise | ⚠️ Regional | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ 75+ LB projects | | Deadline urgency | ❌ Standard pace | ⚠️ Variable | ✅ Rush available |
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Contact Us for Long Beach Multi-Family Retrofit
Ready to address your Long Beach seismic retrofit requirements? Whether you're in Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, or anywhere in Los Angeles County, our licensed Professional Engineers are here to help.
**📞 Call Now: (949) 981-4448** - Free consultation, no obligation
**Serving Long Beach and Los Angeles County:**
- **Long Beach:** Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights, Alamitos Beach, Downtown, North LB
- **Signal Hill:** Complete city coverage
- **Lakewood:** All multi-family properties
- **Carson, Compton, Paramount:** LA County soft-story compliance
[Get Your Compliance Assessment →](/contact?service=seismic-retrofit&city=long-beach)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my building is on the mandatory retrofit list?
Contact the Long Beach Building & Safety Division at (562) 570-6651 or check online at longbeach.gov. The city maintains a list of buildings subject to the soft-story ordinance. If you've received a compliance notice, your building is definitely on the list.
What happens if I miss my compliance deadline?
Non-compliant buildings face escalating daily fines, public posting of non-compliance status, restrictions on rental increases, and recorded notices on property title affecting sale and refinance. Continued non-compliance may result in red-tagging and required tenant relocation at owner expense.
Can retrofit costs be passed through to tenants?
In Long Beach rent-controlled buildings, owners may petition for capital improvement pass-through of seismic retrofit costs, subject to LBHD regulations limiting monthly increases. Non-rent-controlled properties have more flexibility. Consult with an attorney regarding your specific situation.
How long do tenants need to relocate during retrofit?
Most soft-story retrofits can be completed with minimal tenant displacement—often allowing continued occupancy with temporary parking changes. Some buildings may require brief unit-by-unit work causing 1-2 day relocations per unit. Major retrofits may require longer displacement with corresponding tenant protections.
Does retrofit affect my property insurance?
Retrofitted buildings typically qualify for better insurance rates and easier policy placement. Non-compliant buildings may face coverage restrictions, higher premiums, or difficulty obtaining insurance. Many insurers now require proof of ordinance compliance.
Can I sell a non-compliant building?
Yes, but buyers must be notified of retrofit requirements, and lenders may require compliance or escrow holdbacks. Non-compliance affects property value and limits buyer pool. Some investors specifically acquire non-compliant buildings at discount, factoring retrofit costs into purchase price.
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*AAA Engineering Design provides licensed Professional Engineering services throughout California. PE-stamped retrofit plans accepted by all California building departments.*