Soft Story Ordinance Torrance, CA: Compliance Simplified

The City of Torrance is currently developing a seismic retrofit program aimed at enhancing the safety of commercial and multi-unit residential buildings. While the program is not mandatory at this time, the City Council is expected to consider adopting ordinances that would require the evaluation and retrofitting of specific building types known to be vulnerable during seismic events.

The proposed program focuses on structures such as existing wood-frame buildings with soft, weak, or open-front walls, non-ductile concrete buildings, and steel-moment frame buildings. These potentially at-risk buildings are prevalent in areas prone to high seismic activity and may not meet current design standards, making them susceptible to significant damage during major earthquakes.

To proactively address these concerns, the Community Development Department’s Building and Safety Division is organizing workshops for building owners to discuss potential seismic deficiencies and the importance of structural retrofitting. These sessions aim to educate stakeholders on the benefits of reinforcing their properties to withstand seismic forces, thereby enhancing public safety and reducing the risk of severe damage.