April 24, 2025

Media Contacts:
Lisette Guzman, PIO, LA County Public Works
(626) 262-2441, LiGuzman@dpw.lacounty.gov

LA County Introduces Ordinance to Mandate Seismic Retrofits of
High-Rise Concrete Buildings

LOS ANGELES—In an effort to enhance seismic safety and protect the lives and property of residents, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week introduced an ordinance that would mandate seismic retrofit of certain high-rise nonductile concrete buildings located in unincorporated areas or owned by the County.

These types of structures, built before November 1, 1977, often contain limited reinforcing steel in key structural elements—making them prone to brittle behavior which can cause damage and potential for collapse in a major seismic event. The Los Angeles region is situated atop a vast network of earthquake fault systems capable of producing significant seismic events, such as the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

“This ordinance reflects the County’s proactive commitment to public safety and seismic resilience,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. “By retrofitting vulnerable structures, we aim to prevent the devastating loss of life and property that can occur during a major earthquake.”

If approved, the ordinance will require the seismic retrofit and repair of both privately-owned buildings in the unincorporated County and County-owned buildings. It would require owners of qualifying buildings to conduct structural evaluations and, if needed, complete retrofits to meet minimum seismic safety standards within 20 years of receiving a compliance order.

Beyond reducing the risk of collapse, the ordinance aims to enhance the long-term sustainability and resiliency of the County’s building stock—ensuring these critical structures are better able to withstand future seismic events.

The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the ordinance on May 6.