Soft Story Retrofit Engineer in Los Angeles: Ordinance 183893 Compliance Guide 2025

*AAA Engineering Design: California PE Licensed | 20+ Years Experience | 500+ Projects | LA Soft Story Specialists*

# Soft Story Retrofit Engineer in Los Angeles: Ordinance 183893 Compliance Guide 2025

Los Angeles Ordinance 183893 mandates seismic retrofitting for thousands of soft-story buildings across the city—and compliance deadlines are approaching fast. As California-licensed Professional Engineers with 20+ years of soft story retrofit experience, we've helped hundreds of LA property owners achieve compliance efficiently and cost-effectively. Our PE-stamped retrofit plans are designed for Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) approval.

This guide covers everything Los Angeles property owners and managers need to know about soft story retrofit compliance, from identifying if your building is affected to understanding costs, timelines, and the engineering process.

**Direct Answer:** A soft story building has a weak first floor—typically parking, tuck-under garages, or large openings—that can collapse during an earthquake. LA Ordinance 183893 requires owners of wood-frame soft story buildings with 3+ stories and 2+ units to retrofit their buildings. Approximately 13,500 Los Angeles buildings are affected. If you received a compliance notice from LADBS, you're required to retrofit.

Soft story buildings are identified by:

During an earthquake, the weak ground floor acts like a hinge, causing catastrophic collapse. The 1994 Northridge earthquake demonstrated this danger when numerous soft story buildings collapsed in Los Angeles, killing residents and causing billions in damage.

The retrofit adds structural elements—steel moment frames, shear walls, or bracing—that strengthen the weak first floor and prevent collapse.

**Compliance Timeline:** Los Angeles established a phased compliance schedule based on building occupancy and use. Most deadlines have passed or are imminent—contact LADBS or our engineers to verify your specific deadline.

> **Uncertain if Your Building is Affected?** We provide free compliance verification. > **Call (949) 981-4448** | **Check Your Compliance Status →**

**Direct Answer (2025 Pricing):** Soft story retrofit engineering in Los Angeles typically costs $5,000-$25,000 for design and PE-stamped plans. Construction costs range from $60,000-$200,000+ depending on building size, soil conditions, and retrofit approach. Per-unit costs average $20,000-$40,000 for a typical 10-16 unit building. Los Angeles allows rent increases (up to $38/month) to recoup costs over time.

| Service | Los Angeles Price Range | |---------|------------------------| | Initial Assessment/Site Visit | $500-$1,500 | | Retrofit Design & Calculations | $3,000-$8,000 | | PE-Stamped Construction Drawings | $5,000-$15,000 | | LADBS Plan Check Support | $1,000-$3,000 | | Construction Observation | $150-$250/hour |

**By Building Size:** | Building Type | Units | Typical Cost Range | |--------------|-------|-------------------| | Small (3-story triplex) | 3-6 | $40,000-$80,000 | | Medium (3-story 8-plex) | 7-12 | $80,000-$150,000 | | Large (4-story 16+ units) | 13-20 | $150,000-$250,000 | | Very Large (20+ units) | 20+ | $200,000-$400,000+ |

**By Retrofit Approach:** | Method | Cost Per Opening | Best For | |--------|-----------------|----------| | Steel Moment Frames | $8,000-$15,000 | Parking garages, maintaining openings | | Plywood Shear Walls | $3,000-$6,000 | Where openings can be reduced | | Steel Braced Frames | $6,000-$12,000 | Industrial-style aesthetics | | Combination | Variable | Complex configurations |

> **Get a Soft Story Retrofit Quote for Your LA Building** > **Call (949) 981-4448** | **Request Free Estimate →**

**Direct Answer:** The soft story retrofit process in Los Angeles takes 6-12 months from engineering to completion. Steps include: (1) Structural assessment, (2) Retrofit design with PE-stamped plans, (3) LADBS permit application and plan check, (4) Contractor bidding and selection, (5) Construction (6-12 weeks typical), (6) Final inspection and compliance certification. Our engineers guide you through each phase.

**Direct Answer:** The highest concentrations of soft story buildings in Los Angeles are in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown, Silver Lake/Los Feliz, Venice/Mar Vista, Palms/Culver City, and North Hollywood/Valley Village. These areas have large numbers of 1950s-1970s apartment buildings with tuck-under parking.

> "AAA Engineering retrofitted our 16-unit building in Koreatown. Their PE-stamped plans sailed through LADBS plan check, and they stayed involved during construction to make sure everything was done right. Total project completed in 4 months." > — **David K., Los Angeles Property Owner**

> "We own several soft story buildings across LA. AAA Engineering has done 5 of them for us—their efficiency and consistency is why we keep coming back. They understand LADBS requirements inside and out." > — **Marina Properties LLC, Los Angeles**

**Direct Answer:** AAA Engineering Design offers California PE-licensed structural engineering specialized in soft story retrofits, with 100+ Los Angeles projects completed. We provide PE-stamped plans designed specifically for LADBS approval, competitive pricing for multi-building portfolios, and fast turnaround to meet compliance deadlines.

Many LA building owners face a frustrating choice: hire a large engineering firm with premium rates and slow turnaround, or work with a solo practitioner who may lack soft story experience.

| Challenge | Large Firms | Solo Practitioners | AAA Engineering | |-----------|-------------|-------------------|-----------------| | Soft Story Experience | Variable | May lack specialization | 100+ LA projects | | LADBS Relationships | Regional coverage | Limited | Direct contacts | | Turnaround Time | 4-8 weeks typical | Variable | 2-4 weeks typical | | Portfolio Pricing | Volume discounts rare | One-off pricing | Multi-building discounts | | PE Involvement | Junior staff | Personal | PE on every project |

If you own multiple soft story buildings in Los Angeles, we offer:

**Current Capacity:** Accepting new multi-building portfolios

**Direct Answer:** Los Angeles allows building owners to recover soft story retrofit costs through rent increases of up to $38/month per unit, spread over a period not exceeding 6 years. RSO (Rent Stabilization Ordinance) buildings must apply to LA Housing Department (LAHD) for the rent increase, while non-RSO buildings can increase rents per lease terms.

**Application Process:** 1. Complete retrofit with Certificate of Compliance 2. Submit application to LAHD with cost documentation 3. LAHD reviews and approves maximum passthrough amount 4. Increase limited to $38/month maximum 5. Passthrough continues until costs recovered (max 6 years)

AAA Engineering Design serves all of Los Angeles and surrounding communities:

**Office Location:** Stanton, CA (Central Orange County) **Travel:** We provide on-site consultations throughout Greater Los Angeles

The deadline for soft story compliance is here—don't risk non-compliance penalties. Our California-licensed Professional Engineers are ready to design your retrofit and guide you through LADBS approval.

**Call Now: (949) 981-4448** - Priority scheduling for deadline-critical projects

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Our California-licensed Professional Engineers specialize in soft story retrofit design for Los Angeles buildings.

*Serving Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and all of LA County*

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Los Angeles Ordinance 183893 established phased deadlines based on building type and occupancy. Most initial deadlines have passed, and buildings now in non-compliance face penalties. Contact LADBS or our engineers to verify your specific deadline status and any extensions that may apply.

Soft story retrofit costs in Los Angeles average $20,000-$40,000 per unit, depending on building size and retrofit approach. A typical 12-unit building costs $150,000-$200,000 total for engineering and construction. Engineering fees alone range from $5,000-$25,000 depending on complexity.

Yes. Los Angeles allows owners of RSO (rent-controlled) buildings to recover retrofit costs through rent increases of up to $38/month per unit, spread over a maximum of 6 years. You must apply to LAHD after completing the retrofit with proper cost documentation.

Non-compliance with LA Ordinance 183893 can result in citations, fines, and ultimately a building permit restriction that prevents any other permits until the retrofit is completed. Buildings may also face "soft story" disclosure requirements affecting property value and tenant relations.

Soft story retrofit construction in Los Angeles typically takes 6-12 weeks for most buildings. Smaller buildings (3-6 units) may complete in 4-6 weeks, while larger buildings (16+ units) may take 10-14 weeks. Most retrofits are completed with tenants in place, though parking disruption is common during construction.

Most soft story retrofits in Los Angeles are completed with tenants remaining in place. Parking may be temporarily disrupted (typically 1-2 weeks per building section), but unit access is generally maintained. We design retrofits to minimize tenant impact wherever possible.

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