Prior ordinance history: Ord. Nos. 1945CCS, 2380CCS and 2445CCS.
The provisions of this Chapter are intended 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 welded steel moment frame buildings. The welded connections and non-ductility of the steel connecting elements introduce poor performance of these buildings in seismic events. The deficiencies in the lateral force resisting system beam-column connections could experience damage and possible connection failures. This Chapter creates minimum standards intended to 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 § 6, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to any building utilizing a welded steel moment frame that was built under building code standards enacted before January 1, 1996.
(b) 
Buildings described in subsection (a) above 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.
(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 8.76.050, consistent with the time limits set forth in this Chapter.
(d) 
Welded steel moment frames in existing unreinforced masonry buildings or in soft story buildings are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 6, 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.
"Load path deficiency"
occurs when the structure does not contain a complete, well defined load path, including structural elements and connections, that serves to transfer the inertial forces associated with the mass of all elements of the building to the foundation.
"Steel moment frame"
is a frame capable of resisting horizontal forces caused by the steel members (beams and column) and joints resisting forces primarily caused by flexure.
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 6, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
The structural evaluation, structural analysis report, and structural design plans for the seismic strengthening and retrofit for welded steel moment frame buildings shall be conducted by a State of California licensed civil or structural engineer, or a State of California registered architect.
For welded steel moment frame 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 § 6, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)
(a) 
Evaluation, Analysis, and Engineering Report. This Chapter requires the alteration, repair, retrofit, replacement or addition of structural elements and their connections to meet the strength and stiffness requirements set forth in this Chapter, except as modified herein. The structural evaluation required by Section 8.58.030 shall analyze and identify all structural deficiencies in accordance with ASCE 41. The engineering report, containing the required structural evaluation, shall further identify major deficiencies observed in the analysis of the building including: deficient load path, weak or soft story conditions, horizontal or vertical irregularities.
(b) 
Major Deficiencies. Any of the major deficiencies described in subsection (a) of this Section shall cause the building to be retrofitted. Retrofit work to mitigate the major deficiencies shall not impact the existing lateral load elements by increasing any demand-to-capacity ratio by more than ten percent unless the existing elements are shown to be capable of resisting the increased demand. The mitigation of the major deficiencies shall also not create additional structural deficiencies or make the existing structural deficiencies more severe.
(c) 
Advance Analysis. The engineering report may show that the major deficiencies meet the requirements of ASCE 41 by advanced analysis.
(d) 
Structural Analysis, Design and Evaluation. The building shall 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 § 6, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2727CCS § 17, 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
12 Years or 144 Months
Final Approval
20 Years or 240 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
14 Years or 168 Months
Final Approval
22 Years or 264 Months
(Added by Ord. No. 2537CCS § 6, adopted 3/28/17; amended by Ord. No. 2689CCS § 5, adopted 1/25/22; Ord. No. 2831CCS, 10/14/2025)