Prior ordinance history: Ord. Nos. 1945CCS and 2380CCS.
The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the public welfare and safety by reducing the risk of death or injury that may result from the effects of earthquakes on existing concrete buildings. Older concrete buildings are typically vulnerable in seismic events due to deficiencies in the lateral force resisting system (beams, columns and joints) that render the building incapable of sustaining gravity loads when the building is subjected to earthquake-induced lateral displacements. This Chapter creates minimum standards to mitigate hazards from these structural deficiencies. Adherence to these minimum standards will improve the performance of these buildings during earthquakes and reduce, but not necessarily prevent, the loss of life, injury or earthquake-related damage.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any concrete building built under building code standards enacted before January 11, 1977.
(b) 
Buildings described in subsection (a) above that have completed all required seismic retrofit 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.
(c) 
An owner of any buildings within the scope of this Chapter shall demonstrate compliance with the mandatory seismic retrofit requirements of this Chapter, as set forth in Section 8.80.050, consistent with the time limits set forth in this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
"ASCE 41"
is a standards publication by the American Society of Civil Engineers entitled “Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings” and describes deficiency-based and systematic procedures to evaluate and retrofit existing buildings to withstand the effects of earthquakes. This publication is referenced in Chapter 35 of the California Building Code.
"Concrete building"
is a building having concrete floors and/or roofs, either with or without beams, supported by concrete walls and/or concrete columns, and/or concrete frames with or without masonry infills, or any combination thereof.
"Masonry infill"
is the unreinforced or reinforced masonry wall construction within a reinforced concrete frame.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2727CCS § 18, adopted 10/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
The structural evaluation, structural analysis report, and structural design plans for the seismic strengthening and retrofit for non-ductile concrete buildings shall be conducted by a State of California licensed civil or structural engineer, or a State of California registered architect.
For non-ductile concrete buildings over fifty-five feet in height as described by Section 8.44.090 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, the structural evaluation, structural analysis report, and structural design plans shall be conducted by a State of California licensed structural engineer.
Plans and associated documents shall bear the seal and signature of the design professional.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
Scope of Analysis. This Chapter requires the alteration, repair, retrofit, replacement or addition of structural elements and their connections to meet the following requirements in this Section.
(b) 
Building Structural Analysis, Design and Evaluation. The building shall meet one of the following criteria:
(1) 
Strength of the lateral-force resisting system shall meet or exceed seventy-five percent of the base shear specified in the California Building Code seismic provisions. Elements not designated to be part of the lateral-force resisting system shall be adequate for gravity load effects and seismic displacement due to the full (one hundred percent) of the design story drift specified in the California Building Code seismic provisions.
(2) 
Meet or exceed the structural performance level for the associate earthquake hazard levels based on Risk Category as defined in ASCE 41 as follows:
Risk Category
Hazard Level 1
Hazard Level 2
I & II
BSE-1E, S-3
BSE-2E, S-5
III & IV
BSE-1E, S-2
BSE-2E, S-5
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2727CCS § 18, adopted 10/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
Except as provided in subsection (b) below, the owner of any 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
3 Years or 36 Months
Application for Building Permit and Submission of Plans
4 Years, 6 Months or 54 Months
Final Approval
10 Years or 120 Months
(b) 
Notwithstanding subsection (a) above, the owner of any 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
5 Years or 60 Months
Application for Building Permit and Submission of Plans
6 Years, 6 Months or 78 Months
Final Approval
12 Years or 144 Months
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 7, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2689CCS § 6, adopted 1/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)