LAMC §91.9504 mandates seismic retrofit of soft-story wood-frame multifamily buildings with tuck-under parking, while §91.9505 sets standards for cripple-wall and shear-wall reinforcement of older wood-frame structures across Los Angeles.
Ordinance 183893 created LAMC Division 93 to retrofit pre-1978 wood-frame multifamily buildings of two or more stories with soft, weak, or open-front walls over parking. Owners had two years to submit plans and seven years to complete construction once served an Order to Comply, generally finishing in 2023 to 2024. Standard solutions include steel moment frames, plywood shear walls, and foundation anchors per the Plan Sets approved by LADBS. Single-family wood-frame homes are not mandated but qualify for Earthquake Brace + Bolt grants up to $3,000 to install foundation bolts and cripple-wall plywood under §91.9505.
Failure to file plans, complete construction within seven years, or maintain anchor inspections leads to LADBS substandard orders, recordation against title, $1,000+ fines, and tenant relocation requirements.
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