San Leandro Soft Story Evaluation.A PE-signed CEBC Appendix A4 report, filed early enough to cut your City fees.
San Leandro’s soft story ordinance (SLMC Title 7, Chapter 7-5, Article 16, adopted December 16, 2024) requires owners of listed wood-frame buildings to submit a seismic evaluation report within 18 months of the City’s notice. It is an evaluation mandate, not a retrofit mandate. We prepare the screening and the Appendix A4 report, signed by a California licensed civil engineer.
Written scope within one business day.
Wood-frame, five or more units, permitted before 1985.
The ordinance covers existing wood-frame multi-unit residential buildings with five or more units, permitted for construction before January 1, 1985, with a ground floor of parking or similar open space that creates soft, weak, or open-front walls, and one or more stories above. Apartments and condominiums are both covered. Wood-frame non-residential buildings with the same pre-1985, open-ground-floor configuration are also covered (SLMC 7-5-1605).
The City maintains an Inventory of Potentially Hazardous Soft-Story Buildings and serves a Notice and Order on each listed owner (SLMC 7-5-1620, 7-5-1625). If you believe the building is not a soft story building, you may appeal to the Building Official within 60 days of service (SLMC 7-5-1630).
An engineering evaluation under CEBC Appendix A4.
The report must be prepared by a qualified California licensed structural or civil engineer (SLMC 7-5-1640). It evaluates the building against Appendix Chapter A4 of the California Existing Building Code as modified by the ordinance, assesses the structural seismic adequacy of the building, identifies hazardous exterior elements, and describes the work needed to remedy the weaknesses.
The ordinance does not require permit drawings. If the evaluation shows strengthening is needed, retrofit design is a separate scope you can take on when it suits you. A building retrofitted and inspected to Appendix A4 can be removed from the Inventory (SLMC 7-5-1660).
Our scope: review of City records and any existing drawings, a site visit, the initial screening, the Appendix A4 evaluation report signed by a California licensed civil engineer (PE), and responses to City review comments on the report.
The clock starts when the City serves the notice.
- Within 30 days
- Send proof of tenant notice mailing to the Building Official (7-5-1655(a)(3)).
- Within 60 days
- Install a State-certified earthquake-actuated gas shutoff valve (7-5-1645). Last day to appeal inclusion on the Inventory (7-5-1630).
- Within 6 months
- Report submitted: 100% reduction in plan review and inspection fees (7-5-1650(b)).
- Within 12 months
- Report submitted: 50% fee reduction.
- Within 18 months
- Evaluation report due (7-5-1640, 7-5-1665(a)). 25% fee reduction. Tenant notice and posted warning sign in place (7-5-1655(a)).
The deadline is accelerated if the building has a remodel, alteration, addition, or structural repair over $100,000, a change of use under CBC Section 110, or is declared unsafe under CBC Section 115 (7-5-1665(b)). The Building Official may grant an extension of up to six months for unique and exceptional circumstances where an engineer’s report shows no imminent life-safety threat (7-5-1665(c)-(d)). Maintaining or occupying a noncompliant building is unlawful for owners, managers, and persons in control (7-5-1675).
San Leandro soft story FAQ.
Does San Leandro require a retrofit?
Not under this ordinance. Article 16 requires an engineering evaluation report under Appendix Chapter A4 of the California Existing Building Code. The report identifies the weaknesses and describes the work needed to remedy them. Retrofit is a separate decision for the owner.
When is the evaluation report due?
Within 18 months of service of the City's notice. The deadline is shorter if the building undergoes a remodel, alteration, addition, or structural repair over $100,000, a change of use under CBC Section 110, or is declared unsafe (SLMC 7-5-1665).
Who may prepare the report?
A qualified California licensed structural or civil engineer (SLMC 7-5-1640). H2 Seismic Pro reports are prepared and signed by a California licensed civil engineer (PE).
Is there a benefit to filing early?
Yes. Plan review and inspection fees are reduced by 100 percent for qualifying reports submitted within 6 months of service, 50 percent within 12 months, and 25 percent within 18 months (SLMC 7-5-1650(b)).
What else must the owner do?
Install a State-certified earthquake-actuated gas shutoff valve within 60 days of service, notify tenants in writing, post the required earthquake warning sign within five feet of each main entrance, and send proof of mailing to the Building Official within 30 days (SLMC 7-5-1645, 7-5-1655).
Source: San Leandro Municipal Code Title 7, Chapter 7-5, Article 16, Ordinance 2024-017 (ecode360). Confirm current requirements with the City of San Leandro Building & Safety Services.
Send the address and your City notice. Get a written scope.
Every request is reviewed by a licensed PE. Include the date your Notice and Order was served; the 18-month clock runs from that date.
- Response
- Written scope and fee within one business day.
- Turnaround
- Initial screening and CEBC Appendix A4 evaluation report in 14 days from site visit.
- Fee
- Fixed fee, confirmed in writing before work begins. No hourly billing.
- Phone
- (510) 288-9352
- Office
- Dublin, CA 94568