Seismic Evaluations Triggered by Your Permit.Santa Rosa and Sacramento require an evaluation before certain alterations proceed.
Two cities now tie a seismic evaluation to building permits. In Santa Rosa, covered buildings are flagged when you file for sprinklers, a change of use, an addition, an alteration or a repair. In Sacramento, the evaluation is required once construction cost passes 25 percent of replacement cost. We tell you whether your project is triggered and prepare the evaluation if it is.
Written scope within one business day.
City Code Chapter 18-48: evaluation when you pull a permit.
Santa Rosa requires an evaluation of covered existing buildings when the owner files a permit application for fire sprinklers, a change of use, an addition, an alteration or a repair (Santa Rosa City Code 18-48.030.2). The minimum performance objective is Life Safety (18-48.040.1.2). Hazards not abated within 365 days of notice may be ordered vacated and abated (18-48.030.1).
- Pre-1957 buildings
- Built before December 31, 1957, except public schools and one- and two-family light-frame wood dwellings.
- Benchmark
- Any building that does not meet the ASCE 41-13 Table 4-6 benchmark.
- Masonry and concrete
- Unreinforced masonry, and concrete or masonry wall buildings built or permitted before November 1, 2002.
- Soft story
- Multi-story buildings over an open-front garage or other significant opening. Alterations under $50,000 that do not touch the soft story or the story above are exempt.
- Nonstructural
- Suspended lighting fixtures in suspended grid ceilings, in any building.
Standards: 2025 CBC, CEBC and CHBC, and ASCE 41-13, or ASCE 41-17 at Collapse Prevention, as the code allows (18-48.050.1, as amended by Ordinance 2026-001).
The 25 percent trigger, effective January 1, 2026.
Sacramento City Code 15.34.030, amended by Ordinance 2025-0031 (adopted December 2, 2025, effective January 1, 2026), adds to CEBC Section 304.3 a seismic evaluation requirement where total construction cost exceeds 25 percent of the replacement construction cost of the existing building. Furnishings, fixtures and equipment and normal maintenance are excluded. Prior modifications made after adoption of the 1995 California Building Code that did not require seismic retrofit count toward the 25 percent.
Because the cost is cumulative, a modest tenant improvement on a building with earlier work can cross the threshold. We review permit history and the proposed scope, tell you whether the evaluation is triggered, and prepare it if it is.
One evaluation, built for the building department.
Records and drawing review, site visit, evaluation to the applicable CEBC and ASCE 41 provisions, a report signed by a California licensed civil engineer (PE), and responses to plan check comments on the report. If deficiencies are found, retrofit design is available as a separate scope.
Trigger-based seismic evaluation FAQ.
Does a Santa Rosa alteration permit trigger a seismic evaluation?
It can. When a permit application is filed for fire sprinklers, a change of use, an addition, an alteration or a repair, the City flags the evaluation requirement for covered buildings (Santa Rosa City Code 18-48.030.2). Plumbing, mechanical, electrical, small repair and PV permits that do not significantly alter roofing or ductwork or expose covered elements are exempt (18-48.030.3).
Which Santa Rosa buildings are covered?
Buildings built before December 31, 1957 (public schools and one- and two-family light-frame wood dwellings excepted), buildings that do not meet the ASCE 41-13 Table 4-6 benchmark, unreinforced masonry, concrete or masonry wall buildings built or permitted before November 1, 2002, suspended lighting in suspended grid ceilings, and multi-story soft story buildings over an open-front garage or other significant opening (18-48.030.1).
What is the Sacramento 25 percent trigger?
Sacramento City Code 15.34.030, as amended by Ordinance 2025-0031 effective January 1, 2026, adds to CEBC Section 304.3 a requirement for a seismic evaluation where total construction cost, excluding furnishings, fixtures and equipment and normal maintenance, exceeds 25 percent of the replacement construction cost of the existing building. The cost includes prior modifications made after adoption of the 1995 California Building Code that did not require seismic retrofit.
Who prepares the evaluation?
Santa Rosa requires a design professional licensed in the State of California (18-48.040.1). H2 Seismic Pro evaluations are prepared and signed by a California licensed civil engineer (PE), and we confirm eligibility with the building department at the start of each project.
Sources: Santa Rosa City Code Chapter 18-48 (ecode360); City of Sacramento Ordinance 2025-0031. Confirm current requirements with the building department.
Send the address and your permit scope. Get a written scope.
Every request is reviewed by a licensed PE. Include the permit type and construction cost if you have them.
- Response
- Written scope and fee within one business day.
- Turnaround
- Evaluation report in 14 days from site visit for most buildings.
- Fee
- Fixed fee, confirmed in writing before work begins. No hourly billing.
- Phone
- (510) 288-9352
- Office
- Dublin, CA 94568