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Seismicprogram@longbeach.gov     Seismic Program 562.570.7641


The City of Long Beach is working towards safeguarding our community against property damage, loss of life and potential large-scale housing loss in a major earthquake.  The City resides along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major interaction between tectonic plates and directly on top of two major faults nearby, the San Andreas and Newport-Inglewood fault. With earthquakes occurring more frequently in recent years, like the powerful earthquake that hit Taiwan and multiple earthquakes that have rattled Southern California in 2024, the City of Long Beach is proactively taking steps to help property owners be more resilient and prevent against experiencing damages from earthquakes.


Our mission

 To protect property residents and strengthen existing housing through a coordinated effort with the community and property owners to enhance resiliency and habitability. West Hollywood, Pasadena, the city of Los Angeles, Torrance, Santa Monica, Culver City and San Francisco have all enacted seismic strengthening programs to protect their communities and the city of Long Beach has a strong desire and duty to work with our community and develop policies that safeguard our residents against what may be an inevitable future seismic event.

For more information, including interactive maps and photos, please visit our Seismic Program StoryMap at bit.ly/lbseismicprogram.

The Seismic Program has been holding meetings with the leadership and members of various community groups and is nearing the end of our verification period. We will be posting the final SWOF inventory early 2025.

We are asking Homeowner Associations (HOA) members to reach out to the Seismic Program to set up a meeting. 

Tenants
Thursday, October 17, 2024
11am - 12:30pm
Virtual Meeting Via Zoom

           Tenants
Thursday, October 17, 2024
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Cal Rec Community Center, Ernest McBride Park
1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802 

Property Owners
Thursday, September 5, 2024
11am - 12:30pm
Virtual Meeting Via Zoom

          


Property Owners
Thursday, September 5, 2024
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location:
Long Beach Senior Center 1150 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach, CA 90802

What we want to do?

Our strategy through community outreach and working with building owners is to create a seismic resiliency program that strengthens the most vulnerable buildings and safeguards habitability and life against disaster. We want to ensure our city is safe and mitigate damage if a major seismic or natural event occurs. The City will be mailing out a notice to property owners of buildings initially identified as having characteristics consistent with Soft, Weak or Open-Front (SWOF). An outreach campaign is underway to help develop a program to address vulnerable buildings in Long Beach. 
The City of Long Beach is asking owners-of properties identified as having characteristics of Soft, Weak, or Open Front buildings to complete an Owner Screening Form to confirm or correct the SWOF determination. Please download and complete the survey below and return to seismicprogram@longbeach.gov.


This webpage and Screening form only affects property owners whose property has been identified as having a Soft, Weak or Open Front wall line and is listed in the SWOF inventory.



What is Soft, Weak, or Open-Front (SWOF)?

        Buildings with Soft, Weak or Open-Front wall lines also known as soft stories, are mostly present in older buildings, constructed before the establishment of rigorous seismic design standards. Many such structures, erected in an era when knowledge of structural engineering was less comprehensive, often exhibit vulnerabilities in their ground floors. These weaknesses stem from insufficient bracing and stiffness leaving them susceptible to damage during seismic events.

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Hazard Zones
 


Comments or Concerns? We value your feedback. The online survey below can be used by property owners or tenants who may have concerns or questions. 


Online Survey



Find a Design Professional

For more information or to find a design professional, please visit the Southern California Association of Structural Engineers or the American Institute of Architects website.

Funding Assistance for Seismic Retrofit Upgrades

The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) offers seismic retrofit grants up to $13,000 to owners of 1-4 units, soft-story apartments or condominium buildings that reside above garages or tuck under parking. This project will benefit low-income, disadvantaged communities where buildings have not been retrofitted and lack adequate seismic resistance. For more information, please visit below websites:
  SBA offers low interest disaster loans to homeowners and small businesses impacted by declared natural and other disasters. Eligible SBA disaster loan borrowers may choose to receive expanded funding to help mitigate their home or business against future disasters. SBA disaster loans can be increased up to 20% to make building upgrades. 

The purpose of the CalCAP Seismic Safety Financing Program (CalCAP/Seismic Safety) is to incentivize private financing for California small businesses and residential property owners (including multiunit dwellings and registered mobile homes) to finance the costs of seismically retrofitting existing buildings and homes.

Soft Story FAQs

In late summer of 2024, a letter will be sent to owners of buildings preliminarily identified as having SWOF characteristics. Please visit the Seismic Program webpage for more information.
The average cost to strengthen a SWOF building are between $40,000 - $160,000. These are average costs; actual costs for individual projects will vary on the size of the building, the number of SWOF wall lines, and other characteristics specific to the building. 
It’s the owner’s responsibility to notify tenants of a SWOF condition. Access to a finalized inventory of buildings identified as having SWOF characteristics will be available to the public through a webpage once our initial inventory has been verified. It should be noted that a building identified as a SWOF building does not mean the building is unsafe to occupy. These types of buildings are expected to experience greater movement and perform more poorly during an earthquake than a building constructed to the requirements of the current building codes. However, the ability of a building to provide life-safety protection is improved when strengthening occurs.
Our desire is to reduce the number of SWOF buildings through a voluntary program. However, statutes, code requirements, and low participation could lead to a mandatory program in the future.
There are funding options available for owners who can apply for retrofit loans designed specifically for seismic retrofits. We are also exploring other financing options, such as grants, and will continue to post relevant information on the Seismic Program website.
At this time there are no tax benefits related to SWOF repairs.
Currently the program is voluntary. Voluntary retrofits will be exempt from any future mandatory program if implemented.
Seismic strengthening is considered separately from any other scope of work and additional permits would be required for additional scope.
Costs of seismic strengthening cannot be passed on directly to tenants. Additionally, the State of California caps rent increases to 5% plus the consumer price index (local inflation rate) with a maximum rent increase of 10% per year. Long Beach does not have any rent controls in place.
Tenants usually are not affected by SWOF strengthening work, as the work does not generally require construction in habitable spaces. Parking may be disrupted for a period during construction.
A screening form will be sent out along with notification letters to owners of buildings initially identified as a SWOF building. This form will allow for corroboration of the information contained in the SWOF inventory and will provide a means to request removal of the building from the SWOF inventory.  Previously permitted strengthening work or a licensed engineer can complete the screening form and provide justification for removal from the SWOF inventory.

Permit Records Search

To look up the status of current permits or to search permit records, please visit Permit records.

Contact

As we continue to work with the community and develop the Seismic Program, should you have any questions or feedback please contact us at seismicprogram@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.7641.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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