Hayward Soft-Story Ordinance
Hayward has a mandatory soft-story seismic screening ordinance for certain residential buildings, but the City does not currently require all identified soft-story buildings to complete retrofit construction. The City’s Mandatory Soft Story Seismic Screening Ordinance was adopted on July 2, 2019 to identify potentially vulnerable soft-story buildings and encourage voluntary strengthening.
This distinction matters: screening is mandatory for buildings identified by the City, while retrofit construction is voluntary unless Hayward adopts a future mandatory retrofit requirement.
Which Buildings Are Covered?
Hayward’s screening program applies to certain residential buildings that may have soft, weak, or open-front lower stories. A building may fall within the program if it has:
- Wood-frame construction
- Multiple stories
- A permit or construction date before January 1, 1979
- Design based on the 1976 or earlier Uniform Building Code
- A weak, open, or under-braced lower level
- Residential units above parking, storage, or another open ground-floor use
The City selected potential soft-story buildings using Alameda County Assessor data and issued formal notices to owners of buildings identified as potentially subject to the program.
What Owners May Need to Submit
Hayward requires owners of identified potential soft-story buildings to submit seismic screening documentation. The City’s Seismic Screening Form is used for buildings that may be subject to Hayward Municipal Code Chapter 9, Article 7.
The screening process helps determine whether a building has soft-story characteristics, may qualify for an exemption, or needs additional professional evaluation. Building Division staff may request more information if the submitted documentation is not enough to confirm the building’s status.
Screening Deadlines and Current Status
Hayward mailed formal notices to owners of potential soft-story buildings by or before October 30, 2019. Screening deadlines were tied to notification:
- Tier 1: seismic screening documentation due 12 months after notification
- Tier 2: seismic screening documentation due 18 months after notification
Because the original notices were issued years ago, owners should now focus on whether the required screening was submitted, accepted, or remains unresolved. If a property received a notice in 2019 or appears likely to have soft-story conditions, owners should review City records, permit history, and prior screening or retrofit documentation.
Voluntary Evaluation and Retrofit Criteria
Hayward’s ordinance created a mandatory screening process, but the City’s technical bulletin explains that seismic evaluation and retrofit criteria are voluntary. The Soft Story Technical Bulletin provides Building Official interpretations for voluntary seismic evaluation under Hayward Municipal Code Section 9-7.400 and voluntary seismic retrofit under Section 9-7.500.
The bulletin references engineering approaches such as the California Existing Building Code, ASCE 41, and FEMA P-807. For property owners, the practical takeaway is that Hayward provides a framework for voluntary strengthening even though the adopted program currently centers on mandatory screening.
Why Hayward Created the Program
Hayward adopted the ordinance to support a safer and more resilient housing stock. The City has also recognized seismic retrofit as a broader policy priority through its HAZ-3 Seismic Retrofit Program, which calls for encouraging upgrades to masonry buildings, soft-story buildings, and critical facilities.
Hayward’s location near the Hayward Fault makes these issues especially important for older residential buildings designed before modern seismic standards.
Get Clear on Your Hayward Screening Status
If your Hayward building received a soft-story screening notice or has open parking beneath residential units, the next step is understanding whether the required screening has been resolved and whether voluntary strengthening should be considered. Retrofit1 can help property owners review likely soft-story conditions, coordinate licensed structural evaluation, and plan retrofit work if strengthening is recommended.
When a building has seismic concerns beyond Hayward’s screening ordinance, those broader improvements can be evaluated through earthquake retrofitting in Hayward while keeping mandatory screening and voluntary retrofit planning clearly separated.