Mandatory seismic retrofit codes and regulations are increasingly being enforced in cities across California. San Francisco has implemented the Mandatory Retrofit Ordinance, and a similar (and even more expansive) requirement is expected to go into effect in Los Angeles later this year. The aim of these regulations is to create a more seismcially resilient building stock, limit costly damage, and most importantly - protect life safety of building occupants in case of a severe seismic event.
There is possibly another argument for compliance: liability. Ignoring a requirement to make structural improvements could render a property owner/operator liable for damages (and could certainly void insurance coverage) in case of an earthquake. In a very unique legal case, a property owner in San Francisco was charged with negligence for not implementing mandatory seismic strengthening, and was held personally liable for the deaths of two tenants who were killed when the property collapsed.
In today's evolving landscape of seismic regulations, knowing exactly what codes apply when and to which properties, what incentives are available and when a property is compliant can be a confusing task.
Recommended For You
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.
Once you are an ALM Digital Member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking commercial real estate news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the property casualty insurance and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, PropertyCasualty360 and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
*May exclude premium content© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.