The Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program legislation is due for its first hearing on Monday, March 18th before the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee. Based on conversations I’ve had with various clients, friends, and colleagues, it seems like many people are a bit unclear about the details.
I’ve reviewed the legislation and also have spoken to Patrick Otellini, the Director for Earthquake Safety in the Mayor’s Office, so I thought I would share the information with you as it currently stands.
The proposed legislation, authored by Mayor Lee and six Board of Supervisors, adds a new chapter to the San Francisco Building Code that would require mandatory seismic retrofitting of existing wood-frame buildings which were built before January 1, 1978, have three or more stories—the first of which is a “soft” story—and contain five or more dwelling units. Continue Reading