The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) offers seismic retrofit grants up to $13,000 to owners of 1-4 units, soft-story apartments or condominium buildings that reside above garages or tuck under parking. This project will benefit low-income, disadvantaged communities where buildings have not been retrofitted and lack adequate seismic resistance. For more information, please visit below websites: Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS)

SBA offers low interest disaster loans to homeowners and small businesses impacted by declared natural and other disasters. Eligible SBA disaster loan borrowers may choose to receive expanded funding to help mitigate their home or business against future disasters. SBA disaster loans can be increased up to 20% to make building upgrades.

The purpose of the CalCAP Seismic Safety Financing Program (CalCAP/Seismic Safety) is to incentivize private financing for California small businesses and residential property owners (including multiunit dwellings and registered mobile homes) to finance the costs of seismically retrofitting existing buildings and homes.

The Building Seismic Resiliency Program (BSRP) is a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and resilience of older, high-risk buildings in Long Beach, particularly multifamily structures with soft-story vulnerabilities. The program provides property owners with education, technical guidance, and streamlined permitting to support voluntary seismic retrofitting efforts. By encouraging these upgrades, the BSRP seeks to protect lives, preserve housing, and minimize economic disruption in the event of a major earthquake. While currently voluntary, the program also prepares property owners for potential future state-mandated retrofitting requirements.

The City has implemented this program as a voluntary initiative to balance public safety with the financial realities faced by property owners. Seismic retrofitting is a significant investment, and without substantial financial assistance, a mandatory approach could place undue hardship on building owners. Our goal is to encourage and support voluntary retrofitting while being mindful of these challenges.

This program is designed to educate property owners on how to retrofit their buildings, highlight the importance of protecting their investment, and reinforce the need to safeguard the homes of residents and tenants. Many of these buildings house families, workers, and community members who rely on their continued safety and stability. Through technical guidance, streamlined permitting, and potential financial incentives, we aim to make retrofitting more accessible and manageable, allowing owners to take proactive steps at their own pace.

As funding opportunities expand, whether through state or federal programs the City anticipates increased participation in the program. However, if voluntary efforts do not achieve the level of resiliency needed, or if earthquake concerns warrant stronger action, the City may need to re-evaluate its approach, including the possibility of future mandates when resources are available to assist property owners. Additionally, with ongoing discussions at the state level regarding potential seismic retrofit requirements, this program helps prepare building owners for any future regulatory changes.

The City’s priority is to work in partnership with property owners and tenants, providing the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about retrofitting. By taking a collaborative and patient approach, the City can enhance public safety, protect investments, and ensure that residents and tenants can continue to live in secure, resilient homes.

In the summer of 2024, the City sent notification letters to property owners whose buildings were preliminarily identified as having potential SWOF characteristics. In addition, multiple letters were sent inviting property owners to attend informational meetings held throughout the late summer to early fall to inform, educate, and gather feedback on the program. If property owners did not receive a letter but believe their buildings may be affected, a GIS map displaying all potential SWOF buildings in Long Beach will be made publicly available in the Spring of 2025. For the most up-to-date information and resources, please visit the Seismic Program webpage at www.longbeach.gov/seismicprogram.

If property owners believe their buildings were incorrectly identified as SWOF characteristics, they have the opportunity to request a reassessment. A screening form was included with notification letters to property owners of buildings initially identified as having potential SWOF characteristics. This form allows property owners to corroborate or correct the information in the SWOF inventory and serves as a formal means to request removal from the list.

Buildings may be removed from the SWOF inventory if previously permitted seismic retrofitting work has been completed or if a licensed civil or structural engineer submits a request for removal with supporting documentation. For more details and instructions, please visit the Seismic Program webpage at www.longbeach.gov/seismicprogram.

When the list of buildings identified as having potential SWOF characteristics is made available to the public, which is anticipated in the Spring of 2025, anyone (e.g., property owners, tenants, building owner and management associations, tenant advocacy groups, real estate professionals, contractors, design professionals, media, etc.) will be able to export a list of the identified properties. The Seismic Program has a dedicated webpage that will soon include a GIS map of Long Beach that will show all buildings identified as having potential SWOF characteristics. This map will provide easy access for those looking to view the data. For more information and updates, please visit the Seismic Program webpage at www.longbeach.gov/seismicprogram.

To date, 71 buildings have successfully completed a seismic retrofitting work under the voluntary program, enhancing the resilience to approximately 1,033 units, which house 4,132 residents. This progress reflects the program's positive impact on improving safety and preparedness within the community.

The average cost to retrofit a building with SWOF characteristics ranges from $40,000 to $160,000. These are average estimates, and the actual costs for individual projects will depend on several factors, including the size and layout of the building, the number of SWOF wall lines that may need to be strengthened, and other specific characteristics of the building. It is important for property owners to work with licensed civil or structural engineers to get a more accurate cost assessment tailored to their building's unique needs and configuration.

There are funding options available to assist with seismic retrofitting. Property owners can apply for retrofit loans specifically designed for seismic upgrades. Additionally, the City is actively exploring other financing opportunities, including the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), to help cover retrofit costs. The City will continue to post updates and relevant information on the Seismic Program website, so property owners are encouraged to check regularly for new funding opportunities and details on how to apply.

At this time, the City is not aware of any tax incentives or benefits specifically related to seismic retrofitting. However, it is recommended to consult with a tax professional or attorney to explore any potential tax benefits or deductions that may apply to your specific situation. They can provide personalized advice based on the most current tax laws and regulations.

The Building Seismic Resiliency Program is voluntary, and there are no immediate consequences if property owners choose not to strengthen their building at this time. The City's goal is to raise awareness and educate property owners about the potential SWOF characteristics of their buildings. The City is emphasizing the benefits of retrofitting, which include protecting their investment, ensuring the safety of tenants, and enhancing public safety. While the program is voluntary, the City is exploring ways to make the voluntary seismic retrofitting work exempt from future mandatory retrofit requirements, which are likely to be more stringent and costly. Taking action now can help avoid more expensive retrofitting and compliance costs in the future while contributing to a safer community.

While it is technically possible to combine seismic retrofitting with other construction work, such as adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), the City’s aim is to keep these projects separate. The primary goal of seismic retrofitting is to mitigate earthquake hazards efficiently, ensuring that critical safety improvements are completed without unnecessary delays.

Combining retrofitting with additional work can extend project timelines, increase costs, and complicate the permitting process, which may delay essential life-safety improvements. While the City supports efforts to increase housing supply, ADU construction is best pursued under a separate permit to allow seismic retrofitting to proceed quickly and effectively. Additionally, any work that could potentially result in a substantial remodel would warrant further review and examination to ensure full compliance with tenant protection laws. Seismic retrofitting typically occurs in tuck-under garages or parking areas where it generally does not impact tenant living spaces and should not rise to a level of a substantial remodel.

Access to a finalized inventory of buildings identified as having potential SWOF characteristics will be available to the public through the Seismic Program webpage in the Spring of 2025. This means that tenants, along with the general public, will be able to look up whether their building has been identified as potentially having SWOF characteristics.

It is important to note being identified as a SWOF building does not mean the building is unsafe to occupy. Rather, it indicates that these buildings have certain structural characteristics that may result in increased movement during a major earthquake compared to buildings constructed under modern building codes. Seismic retrofitting of these buildings is a pro-active step to further enhance their resilience and improve life-safety protections for tenants.

The City has engaged tenant advocacy groups educating residents and raise awareness about SWOF buildings, the voluntary Building Seismic Resiliency Program, and the benefits of seismic retrofitting.

The costs of seismic retrofitting cannot be directly passed on to tenants. In terms of rent increases, the State of California caps annual rent increases to 5% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which reflects the local inflation rate, with a maximum increase of 8.9% per year. However, the City does not have local rent control laws in place.

It is important to note that seismic retrofitting should not affect tenant habitability, and the work usually causes very little to some disturbance to tenants. Typically, the work occurs in tuck-under garages or parking areas, which means tenant living spaces should not be affected.

It is anticipated that tenants will not be significantly affected by seismic retrofitting work, as the construction typically does not take place in habitable spaces. The work is usually conducted in non-living areas, such as tuck-under garages or parking areas, meaning tenants’ living spaces should not be impacted. However, temporary disruptions to parking may occur during construction, but tenants will generally not be displaced or experience significant inconvenience.

The City recognizes that the community may have questions or concerns regarding the seismic strengthening of buildings. To address this, at least four community outreach meetings were held during the summer of 2024, including two in-person and two virtual meetings, specifically for property owners and their representatives. These meetings provided an opportunity to gather feedback and address concerns, helping to ensure that community members feel heard and understood.

In addition to these meetings, the City held multiple one-on-one sessions with tenant advocacy groups in late 2024 to further educate and engage tenants. The City also reached out to several homeowners associations to inform condo building owners with potential SWOF characteristics and emphasized the benefits of seismic retrofitting. This remains an ongoing effort, and the City will continue working with tenant and owner advocacy groups to ensure all concerns are heard and addressed.