Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit – City of Glendale
Compliance Deadlines
Notice Received
The city identifies affected buildings (roughly 1,000 apartment buildings) and sends notices.
Within 2 Years
Submit a structural analysis, engineering report, and plans for retrofitting or demolition.
Within 3.5 Years
Obtain all necessary permits to begin construction.
Within 7 Years
Complete construction and obtain a final certificate of compliance
Targeted Structures
Wood-frame, 2+ stories, built before 1978, with ground-floor parking or open space.
Structural Evaluation
A licensed engineer or architect must assess the building and design the retrofit, which often involves adding steel frames or reinforcing walls.
Tenant Considerations
A Tenant Habitability Plan (THP) must be filed to manage impact on residents.
What Medro Engineering Provides
- Full structural assessment
- Identification of SWOF lines
- Determination of “Retrofit Required” or “Exempt”
- Engineering justification for exemption requests
- Posting guidance for required signage
Fully compliant with Burbank Seismic Design Guidelines, including:
- Lateral analysis and calculations
Soft/weak/open-front wall strengthening design - Diaphragm, collector, and foundation upgrades
- Cantilever column systems
- Drift checks, base-shear calculations, and irregularity assessments
- Complete structural details and material specifications
- Plan check response letters
- Structural observation forms
- Coordination with Building & Safety
- Housing and tenant-notification support
- Structural observation during key stages
- Contractor RFI support
- Final approval assistance
- 100% permit-fee refund for full compliance by July 10, 2026
- 50% refund for compliance by January 10, 2028
- Mandatory safety signage after Notice to Comply
- Posting of construction notices
- Removal of signage after final City approval
Owners may recover up to 50% of construction costs (max $51/unit/month for up to 120 months).