With the new Soft Story Ordinance, planning has become a crucial element for property owners in the Los Angeles area.

If you are a building owner for more than a year or two, the mandatory Soft Story retrofit program is probably not the first regulation you need to abide by.

This ordinance makes sure that buildings become more resilient to earthquakes and building residents stay safe.

However, most building owners don’t know the requirements to be complete, how to start, and who to trust to complete it. That’s why it takes plenty of planning and guidance every step of the way while complying with this ordinance.

In this short article, it’s our goal to use our 40+ years of experience to help you understand the requirements to be done and how long it takes.

Engineering

As the first step of compliance, you need to submit an engineering plan. A structural engineer will create this within two years of when notice of compliance was sent. On average, an engineering plan takes between 3 and 8 months to get a Ready to Issue (RTI) permit.

The duration depends on a lot of factors such as the size of the building, the number of corrections needed, structural complexities, etc. Also, if the property is located on the top or nearby utility lines, it may take additional two-three months to obtain clearance from pertinent departments.

Construction

Doing construction work on residential property while tenants are still living there can be challenging.

Other potential problems include uncovering hidden defects or removing elements like pipes and gates to properly implement the seismic plan.

Generally, most construction projects take 3-4 months but it can take longer if additional work is required.

Choosing the right Soft Story Retrofitting Company

It is essential to do thorough research on every company that bids on your project. Consider how many years they have been in business and how many projects they have completed. When it comes to the best Soft Story retrofitting job in LA, you want someone who has experience.

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems has been offering best quake-proofing services to residents of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley for over 40 years. We are a team of qualified professionals who understand the importance of collaborating with multiple channels (e.g. LADBS) to guarantee successful compliance.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call us at 888-690-1561 or drop us a line here to schedule a free inspection today to get started.