San Francisco has just had an historic anniversary. As of April 18th, it has been 110 years since the greatest earthquake this City has ever seen. With deadly earthquakes on the rise, property Owners must answer the question: “Is your building ready for the big one?”

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection has been implementing several programs to help Owners be in a position to answer that question positively, including the Mandatory Soft-Story Program which was signed by Mayor Ed Lee on the 110th Anniversary of the great quake. Thousands of buildings built prior to 1978 were required to get the mandatory seismic retrofit work done so that San Francisco as a whole will be more prepared to recover more quickly from its next impending natural disaster. These precautionary measures will ensure that, in the days following the next major quake, fewer people will be displaced and fewer businesses disrupted.

Since every structure in San Francisco will be vulnerable when the next natural disaster hits, taking preemptive measures to ensure that your property is suitably prepared to sustain the seismic event is a great investment. Consideration of this fact will be helpful when trying to determine whether or not the financial requirements are really worth it. Additionally, property Owners should consider the additional revenue that could come from adding additional dwelling units where there is sufficient space to accommodate them. Owners may also pass on some of the costs of the work to the tenants (for more information, contact the San Francisco Rent Board at 415-252-4602). Measures such as this can help to defray the overall costs associated with retrofitting your property.

Complying with the requirements of the ordinance involves 4 basic steps:

Step 1 is to hire a licensed civil or structural engineer.
Step 2 is to take your completed plans to DBI’s office at 1660 Mission Street, complete permit application Form 3/8, and provide 2 sets of plans.
Step 3 Proceed with work and keep track of inspections.
Step 4 Obtain certificate of Final Completion and submit to DBI staff to complete compliance.

As a San Francisco Property Owner, you are in a privileged position to ensure that our City will be better prepared in the event of the next seismic event.

As a San Francisco Property Owner, you are in a privileged position to ensure that our City will be better prepared in the event of the next seismic event.
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