# Soft-Story Retrofit Engineer Santa Monica: 2025 Compliance Guide
Santa Monica building owners face one of California's strictest mandatory seismic retrofit ordinances. With over 1,900 buildings requiring compliance and escalating penalties, finding the right soft-story retrofit engineer in Santa Monica has never been more critical.
Understanding Santa Monica's Soft-Story Retrofit Ordinance
Santa Monica's mandatory retrofit program targets wood-frame buildings that pose the greatest seismic risk including ground-floor parking with residential units above, large openings creating structural weakness, buildings constructed before 1978, and three or more stories with 16+ dwelling units.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- **Property Sale Restrictions**: Non-compliant buildings face transfer complications
- **Insurance Issues**: Many insurers require compliance certification
- **Tenant Notifications**: Building owners must inform tenants of compliance status
Our Santa Monica Retrofit Process
**Step 1: Initial Assessment (1-2 Days)** - Comprehensive structural evaluation including review of original construction documents, on-site inspection, and preliminary retrofit approach recommendation.
**Step 2: Engineering Design (2-3 Weeks)** - PE-stamped engineering documents with load calculations per ASCE 7 and California Building Code.
**Step 3: Permit Submission** - Complete application packages with city-specific requirements.
**Step 4: Construction Support** - Pre-construction meetings, special inspection coordination, and final inspection support.
Contact Information
**City of Santa Monica Building & Safety**
- Phone: (310) 458-8355
- Website: santamonica.gov/building-and-safety
**Call (949) 981-4448** or visit aaaengineeringdesign.com/contact for compliance assessment.
*Guaranteed plan acceptance or we revise free.*