Prior ordinance history: Ord. Nos. 1945CCS, 2380CCS, 2445CCS and 2462CCS.
Appendix Chapter A1 of the California Existing Building Code 2025 Edition, entitled "Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Unreinforced Masonry Bearing Wall Buildings" which adopts by reference Appendix Chapter A1 of the International Existing Building Code, 2024 Edition, as published by the California Building Standards Commission and the International Code Council (excluding Sections A101, A102, A105, A114, Table A114.1), is hereby adopted as the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Requirements for Unreinforced Bearing Wall Buildings, of the City of Santa Monica.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 2, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2623CCS § 13, adopted 10/22/19; Ord. No. 2727CCS § 14, adopted 10/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
The purpose of this Chapter is to enhance public safety by providing improved measures for seismic strengthening to unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings (“URM buildings”) and reducing risks from the effects of seismic activity. This Chapter and the requirements for mandatory seismic strengthening and retrofit, address the hazards of URM buildings and associated elements of these buildings that are unreinforced such as non-bearing masonry walls and parapets.
This Chapter and the requirements therein are considered minimum standards for structural seismic resistance. They are intended to provide a greater measure of safety through improved performance of URM buildings. Compliance with this Chapter does not necessarily prevent the loss of life or injury or damage to retrofitted URM buildings.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 2, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all buildings built under building code standards enacted before January 11, 1977 that contain any unreinforced masonry bearing or non-bearing walls or attachments and appurtenances ("URM buildings").
(b) 
An owner of any buildings within the scope of this Chapter shall demonstrate compliance with the mandatory seismic retrofit requirements of this Chapter consistent with the time limits set forth in this Chapter.
(c) 
URM buildings that have completed all required seismic retrofit work, with a lateral load resisting analysis and structural design plans, and obtained valid final approval from the City of Santa Monica prior to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, are exempt from the requirements this Chapter, except that tall slender URM buildings with wall height to thickness ratio of thirteen or greater (>=13) shall be subject to the requirements of this Chapter regardless of previously retrofit status.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 2, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
Except as provided in subsection (b), the owner of any URM building covered by this Chapter shall comply with the following time limits:
Action by Building Owner
Time Limits from Date of Service of Order
Structural Evaluation Report
90 Days or 3 Months
Application for Building Permit and Submission of Plans
180 Days or 6 Months
Final Approval
2 Years or 24 Months
(b) 
Notwithstanding subsection (a) above, the owner of any URM building covered by this Chapter that has received a permit: (1) issued and active as of March 13, 2020; (2) issued between March 13, 2020 and December 31, 2022; or (3) issued pursuant to a complete application submitted between March 13, 2020 and December 31, 2022 shall comply with the following time limits:
Action by Building Owner
Time Limits from Date of Service of Order
Structural Evaluation Report
2 years, 3 months; or 27 months
Application for Building Permit and Submission of Plans
2 years, 6 months; or 30 months
Final Approval
4 years; or 48 months
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 2, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2689CCS § 2, adopted 1/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)