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DBI outlines mandatory soft‑story retrofit program and outreach for 6,100+ buildings
Summary
Acting director Tom Hui and program manager Robert Chung presented the city's mandatory soft‑story (seismic) retrofit implementation: a 6,100+ building inventory, tiered screening and compliance timelines, tenant‑protection outreach and an online building status database.
Acting Director Tom Hui and Robert Chung, named manager of the Soft Story (Earthquake Safety Implementation) program, told the Building Inspection Commission on June 19 that the department is preparing notifications for more than 6,100 buildings permitted for construction before 1978 that meet the program criteria (five or more units, three stories or two stories over a basement in some configurations).
Chung described the program's screening and tier system: owners will receive a screening form that an engineer or architect must complete and return within one year. Based on responses, properties will be placed into one of four tiers with staged deadlines; for example, Tier 1 (assembly occupancy on any story) will require drawings within two years and construction completion within four years. Tier 4 properties (e.g., commercial frontage in liquefaction areas) may receive longer timeframes, including up to seven years for construction completion in some cases.
The department will publish an online searchable database listing buildings by block and lot, status of screening form submission, whether drawings have been submitted, or whether construction has started. Chung said DBI plans to limit retrofit work to structural retrofit scope to avoid allowing unrelated tenant‑improvement work to be piggybacked on retrofit permits. AB 94 (state law referenced in the packet) remains available for some four‑unit buildings.
Commissioners raised tenant‑displacement concerns and financing needs for owners. Staff described planned outreach by supervisor district, tenant‑focused information, a financing workshop in the fall that will present the city's financing product and invite private lenders, and a separate stream of landlord‑tenant rent‑pass‑through rules. Staff said pass‑through is not automatic; current rent ordinance allows a 100% amortized pass‑through over 20 years but hardship processes and tenant protections are part of ongoing work.
Chung said DBI will hire clerical support and train staff; he reported receiving roughly five daily phone calls during initial outreach and that owners have already begun contacting the department and engaging engineers before formal notice. The department plans spot‑checking and finalizing the building list before notices are mailed within the 90‑day schedule in the ordinance.
