As seismic safety continues to be a top priority in California, property owners in Huntington Beach are turning their attention to the vulnerabilities of soft-story buildings. While Huntington Beach has not yet adopted a formal mandatory soft story retrofit ordinance as of 2025, the city is actively studying the issue, and history shows that similar cities often adopt legislation following regional assessments, state mandates, or after major earthquakes.
At Alpha Structural, we’ve retrofitted hundreds of buildings throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and coastal cities like Huntington Beach. This page offers a clear, expert-driven guide to soft story structures, local developments, and why proactive retrofitting remains the smartest move for landlords and property managers in seismic zones.
A soft story building is typically a wood-framed structure with one or more open, ground-floor levels—most commonly tuck-under parking, retail storefronts, or carports—that lack adequate lateral support. This architectural design creates a critical structural weakness that makes the building especially prone to collapse during an earthquake.
Soft story buildings were widely constructed before modern seismic building codes were introduced in the late 1970s. Many still stand today throughout Southern California, including Huntington Beach’s residential and mixed-use neighborhoods.
Although Huntington Beach does not currently have a soft story retrofit mandate, city officials have acknowledged the seismic risks. Neighboring cities such as Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood already require soft story retrofits by law.
In the aftermath of California Senate Bills 721 and 326 (which focus on balcony and exterior elevated element inspections for multifamily buildings), many municipalities are also considering companion retrofit ordinances for seismic vulnerabilities.
Property owners should be prepared for a similar ordinance in Huntington Beach in the coming years. Acting now—before mandates and deadlines—offers greater flexibility and often reduces total retrofit cost.
The Northridge Earthquake of 1994 offers a grim warning: soft story buildings were among the most vulnerable structures, with dozens of total collapses and numerous fatalities. The failure occurs when the upper floors move laterally during a quake while the open lower level cannot resist the shear force.
Key risks of delaying retrofitting include:
Listen to Alpha Structural President, Dave Tourjé on KPCC's AirTalk with host, Larry Mantle talk about Earthquake Retrofitting in Los Angeles
Listen NowA soft story retrofit involves structural reinforcement of the open lower level to improve the building's seismic performance. The goal is to create a continuous load path that transfers lateral forces safely to the foundation.
Every retrofit is engineered based on site-specific conditions, including soil type, occupancy, wall layouts, and the number of open bays.
Several Southern California cities have adopted successful retrofit programs, providing a likely template for future ordinances in Huntington Beach:
Even without a current ordinance, landlords in Huntington Beach can—and should—take the following proactive steps:
A licensed structural engineer will evaluate whether your building qualifies as a soft story and provide a vulnerability rating.
This includes proposed retrofit strategies, cost estimates, parking impact considerations, and expected timelines.
If you choose to move forward, a retrofit plan will be developed based on your building's unique structure, occupancy, and budget.
We help navigate Huntington Beach’s permitting process, even in the absence of a formal mandate, ensuring full code compliance and documentation.
Most retrofits can be completed within weeks with minimal disruption to tenants. Our team works efficiently and respectfully to meet timeline and safety goals.
With over three decades of seismic and structural engineering experience, Alpha Structural is one of the most trusted names in soft story retrofitting across Southern California. Our in-house engineering and construction teams provide:
We’ve completed thousands of soft story retrofits for apartment owners, HOA boards, and commercial property stakeholders—and we bring that expertise directly to Huntington Beach.
Don’t wait for the next ordinance—or the next earthquake. Protect your building, your tenants, and your investment by scheduling a Huntington Beach soft story retrofit assessment today.
Call Alpha Structural at (714) 410-5556 or request an assessment online. Our structural specialists are here to help Huntington Beach property owners make informed, confident decisions.
The following list represents just some of the types of foundation repair we specialize in:
Alpha Structural is thrilled to announce our partnership with GreenSky Financing, offering convenient financing options for your structural projects. Whether you need foundation repairs, seismic retrofitting, or other enhancements, our seamless financing solution through GreenSky empowers you to tackle your project with confidence. With flexible payment plans and competitive interest rates, you can now address crucial structural needs without financial constraints. Contact Alpha Structural today to learn more and embark on your home improvement journey with ease.
