LA County has no mandatory retrofit ordinance for non-ductile concrete buildings in unincorporated areas. LACoDPW maintains a voluntary inventory and offers ASCE 41-17 evaluation guidance, while LA City's mandatory program does not extend to county jurisdiction.
Non-ductile reinforced concrete buildings constructed before the 1976 UBC are recognized as one of the highest seismic risks in Southern California. Unlike LA City Ordinance 183893 (2015), which mandates ASCE 41-17 evaluation and retrofit within 25 years, LA County has not adopted a parallel mandate for unincorporated areas. LACoDPW Building & Safety offers voluntary screening using the FEMA P-154 rapid visual screening protocol and accepts ASCE 41-17 Tier 1-3 analyses for owners pursuing voluntary upgrades. Title 26 governs the permit process when retrofits proceed. Contract cities served by county planning may adopt their own mandates separately.
No retrofit mandate means no penalties for non-ductile buildings as such. Owners face liability exposure after a damaging earthquake under California premises-liability law, and lenders or insurers may require evaluation as a condition of financing or coverage.
See how Santa Monica's non-ductile concrete retrofit rules stack up against other locations.
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