Soft Story Retrofitting in Anaheim

Southern California is no stranger to seismic activity, and cities like Anaheim sit squarely within areas of elevated earthquake risk. While the City of Anaheim has not adopted a mandatory soft story retrofit ordinance as of 2025, the conversation around seismic resilience is growing louder. Neighboring cities like Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood have already enacted strict requirements for soft story retrofitting, and property owners in Anaheim would be wise to prepare accordingly.

At Alpha Structural, we’ve worked with thousands of building owners across Southern California to reinforce vulnerable soft-story structures. This page provides critical insights for Anaheim landlords and property managers who want to stay ahead of potential legislation—and more importantly, protect the safety of their buildings and tenants.

What Is a Soft Story Building?

A soft story building is defined by its structurally weak ground floor, often featuring wide openings for tuck-under parking or retail storefronts, and supported by slender columns. This design, common in buildings constructed before 1978, lacks sufficient shear resistance at the base level.

During an earthquake, the upper floors shift laterally while the weak lower level can’t resist the force. The result is often a catastrophic collapse. Soft story buildings were responsible for a disproportionate number of fatalities and structural failures in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Does Anaheim Have a Soft Story Ordinance in 2025?

No. As of this writing, Anaheim does not have a formal soft story retrofit ordinance in place. However, the city is likely monitoring the outcomes of programs enacted in other municipalities. Many cities implemented legislation after studies identified thousands of vulnerable buildings still in use.

Anaheim’s rental housing stock includes a significant number of multi-family, wood-framed structures built between the 1950s and 1980s—the same period in which soft story construction was common. Owners of these buildings should consider voluntary retrofitting now, especially in light of potential legislation modeled after Ordinance 183893 in Los Angeles.

What Would a Future Ordinance Mean for Anaheim Landlords?

If Anaheim were to pass a mandatory soft story retrofit program, landlords could expect the following:

• Official notices sent to owners of qualifying properties
• Defined timeframes for engineering assessments and retrofit construction (typically 2–7 years)
• Engineering plan submission and permit deadlines
• Mandatory compliance or enforcement actions (e.g., fines, red-tagging, or lien placement)

Getting ahead of these steps now allows property owners to take control of costs, timelines, and construction logistics before city mandates narrow those options.

Why Retrofit Now Without a Mandate?

Even without a legal requirement, retrofitting your soft-story building offers substantial benefits:

• Occupant Safety: Reinforcement dramatically improves performance during a seismic event.
• Reduced Liability: Property owners may be held responsible for preventable injuries or deaths in a collapse.
• Lower Insurance Costs: Many carriers offer discounts for retrofitted buildings.
• Tenant Retention: Demonstrating a commitment to safety increases trust and long-term occupancy.
• Increased Property Value: Retrofitting is a smart, long-term investment.

Soft Story Retrofit: What’s Involved?

A soft story retrofit structurally reinforces the vulnerable ground level of a building. This is not a cosmetic repair—it’s a comprehensive engineering intervention designed to transfer lateral loads safely to the foundation during an earthquake.

Retrofit Techniques Include:

• Steel Moment Frames: Reinforced steel structures installed in open bays.
• Cantilevered Column Systems: Ideal for buildings with limited retrofit clearance.
• Plywood Shear Walls: Provide additional lateral resistance.
• Tie-Downs and Drag Connections: Create a continuous load path from roof to foundation.

Our engineers at Alpha Structural evaluate each building on a case-by-case basis, designing a solution that meets safety standards without compromising functionality (like parking access).

How We Help Anaheim Building Owners

We’ve supported property owners in dozens of California cities through every phase of the retrofit process. Here’s what we offer Anaheim landlords:

• On-site structural assessments to determine retrofit eligibility
• Full retrofit design, stamped by licensed engineers
• Permit processing and city coordination
• Efficient, high-quality construction with minimal disruption to tenants

Our team is familiar with Orange County code requirements and stays current on evolving retrofit discussions across the region.

What to Expect in the Process

If you're considering retrofitting voluntarily in Anaheim, here’s how the typical process works:

1. Assessment & Consultation: We inspect the building and identify vulnerabilities.
2. Engineering Design: A tailored retrofit plan is created, ensuring performance under seismic loads.
3. Permitting: Our staff handles submittals to Anaheim’s building department.
4. Construction: Retrofit work is executed with tenant coordination and safety in mind.
5. Final Inspection: Completed projects are inspected and approved by both city officials and our in-house quality control team.

What About Funding Options?

Though Anaheim has no city-specific grant program, eligible property owners may qualify for support through:

• Private retrofit financing options with low-interest terms
• Tax incentives or depreciation through cost segregation studies
• GreenSky Financing with flexible payment plans and competitive rates through Alpha Structural

Our team can help you explore these resources to offset out-of-pocket costs.

Why Alpha Structural?

For over 30 years, Alpha Structural has led the field in structural engineering and seismic retrofit solutions. We are one of the few firms in Southern California licensed to both engineer and build. That means we control quality, timelines, and budgets—start to finish.

• Thousands of successful soft story retrofits completed
• All design and engineering is done in-house
• Fully permitted and code-compliant
• Unmatched expertise in wood-frame, soft-story, and hillside structures

If your building needs to meet future seismic demands, we’ll make sure it’s done right—and done once.

Schedule Your Retrofit Assessment

Now is the time to assess your risk and secure your property. Don’t wait for an ordinance or an earthquake to force your hand.

Call Alpha Structural today at (714) 410-5611 to schedule a professional soft story retrofit assessment for your Anaheim property. Let us help you protect your investment, your tenants, and your peace of mind.

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