The City of San José has approved a Soft Story Retrofit Ordinance to protect residents living in older wood-frame apartment buildings from earthquake risks. The ordinance takes effect on April 1, 2026 and requires qualifying buildings to be screened and retrofitted within specific deadlines.
If you check these boxes, you've got a timeline to follow. Let's break it down.
Residential buildings subject to the Ordinance are categorized by age and number of dwelling units as follows:
Includes subject buildings constructed before January 1, 1978 and contain five or more units. Subject buildings not assigned to groups 2 or 3 are assigned to Group 1.
Includes subject buildings constructed after January 1, 1978 and before January 1, 1990 and contain five or more units. Subject buildings not assigned to Group 1 are assigned to Group 2.
Includes subject buildings constructed before January 1, 1990 and contain three or more units. Subject buildings not assigned to groups 1 or 2 are assigned to Group 3.
| Step | Deadline | For Properties That Are... |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Screening | October 1, 2027 | All qualifying buildings |
| Retrofit Complete | April 1, 2031 | 5+ units, permitted before Jan 1, 1978 |
| Retrofit Complete | April 1, 2032 | 5+ units, permitted 1978–1990 |
| Retrofit Complete | April 1, 2033 | 3+ units, permitted before 1990 |
Under the Ordinance, Owners will be notified of the following compliance deadlines that apply to the subject building groups:
Screening Phase Deadline is Oct. 1, 2027 for all building groups – Buildings in groups 1, 2 and 3 must all be screened by Oct. 1, 2028 (18 months from the ordinance going into effect on April 1, 2026).
For more information, visit the official City of San José page:
San José Soft Story Retrofit Program →