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Ordinance 183893 Compliance Documentation

Ordinance 183893 compliance documentation depends on the division named in the LADBS order. Ordinance No. 183893 covers "existing wood-frame buildings with soft, weak, or open-front walls and existing non-ductile concrete buildings." For a Division 93 soft-story building, the owner submits a structural analysis and plans (or demolition plans) "Within one (1) year after service of the order." For a Division 95 non-ductile concrete building, the owner submits the LADBS checklist within three years and "a detailed evaluation of the building" within ten years. Council File 14-1697-S1 lists "Ordinance effective date: November 22, 2015."

Ordinance 183893 compliance documentation is listed as the County Recorder certificate under §91.9306.6—scope/order at service and a terminating certificate after alterations or analysis—plus the statement on the approved plans under §91.9310.2 from a California civil or structural engineer or architect (§91.9305.1). That plan statement is design-time text, not an Order-dismiss act. Lender PML/SEL is not ordinance documentation.

Per Ordinance 183893, §91.9306.6 states that at the time the Department serves the order, the Department shall file with the Office of the County Recorder a certificate stating that the subject building has been determined to be within the scope of this division. The same section states that the Department shall file a certificate terminating the above recorded status if the building is thereafter demolished, found not to be within the scope, or is determined to be structurally capable of resisting minimum seismic forces as a result of structural alterations or analysis. §91.9310.2 states that the responsible engineer or architect shall provide statements on the approved plans — design-time plan text, not an Order-dismiss act. §91.9305.1 states that a civil or structural engineer or architect licensed by the state of California prepares the structural analysis. A lender PML/SEL does not close the LADBS Order.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

What does Ordinance 183893 say about recordation and plan statements?

Per Ordinance 183893, the ordinance says the following about recordation and plan statements (neither clause is listed as an Order-dismiss pairing):

Ordinance itemOrdinance sectionWho provides it
County Recorder certificate§91.9306.6Department — scope/order at service; terminating certificate after alterations/analysis
Statement on the approved plans§91.9310.2California civil or structural engineer or architect (§91.9305.1)

Why is ordinance-specific documentation required?

Ordinance 183893 mandates specific retrofit standards and documentation procedures. §91.9306.6 lists County Recorder recordation at order service and a later certificate terminating the recorded status after demolition, not-in-scope finding, or structural alterations or analysis. §91.9310.2 lists engineer/architect statements on the approved plans (design-time text, not an Order-dismiss act). §91.9305.1 lists civil or structural engineer or architect. A lender PML/SEL does not close the Order. Lender PML/SEL appraisals prepared for Freddie Mac underwriting do not satisfy city ordinance documentation standards because they serve different purposes and recipients.

Document typePurposeRole in ordinance text
County Recorder certificate (§91.9306.6)At order service: Department files scope/order certificate with County Recorder (§91.9306.6)Published ordinance text
Statement on approved plans (§91.9310.2)Engineer's or Architect's Statement on the approved plans (design-time text, not an Order-dismiss act) (§91.9310.2)Published ordinance text
Lender PML/SEL (Probable Maximum Loss / Scenario Expected Loss)Freddie Mac real estate appraisal for earthquake collateral risk (ASTM E2026)No

What does each division of Ordinance 183893 require the owner to submit, and when?

Per Ordinance 183893 (§91.9305.2 for Division 93, §91.9504.2 for Division 95), every deadline runs from service of the LADBS order:

DivisionOrdinance textSection
93 — wood-frame soft, weak or open-front wallsWithin one (1) year after service of the order: "A structural analysis and plans which shall demonstrate the building, as is, meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in Section 91.9309"; or "A structural analysis and plans which shall demonstrate that the proposed structural alteration of the building meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in Section 91.9309"; or "Plans for the demolition of the building"§91.9305.2
93Within two (2) years after service of the order, obtain all necessary permits for rehabilitation or demolition§91.9305.2
93Within seven (7) years after service of the order, complete construction or demolition work under all necessary permits§91.9305.2
95 — non-ductile concreteWithin three (3) years after service of the order described in Section 91.9505, submit on the form provided by the Department a completed checklist for the Department to review and approve§91.9504.2
95within ten (10) years after service of the order, submit a detailed evaluation of the building documenting whether the building meets or exceeds the requirements set forth in Section 91.9508§91.9504.2
95Within twenty-five (25) years after service of the order, complete all necessary demolition or retrofit work on the building§91.9504.2

The LADBS Non-Ductile Concrete Building Checklist states: "The purpose of this form is to confirm that this building is within the scope of the ordinance." Its Statement from Engineer of Record has the licensed Engineer/Architect certify that the building is or is not "within the scope of LABC Chapter 95, Mandatory Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Non Ductile Concrete Building (Ordinance No. 183893, effective Nov. 22, 2015)." For Division 95 plans, §91.9509.2 of Ordinance 183893 requires the engineer or architect to state the design criteria: "using the design criteria of (75% of ASCE 7 or ASCE 41)."

Frequently asked questions

What is Ordinance 183893 compliance documentation?

Per Ordinance 183893, §91.9306.6 states that at the time the Department serves the order, the Department shall file with the Office of the County Recorder a certificate stating that the subject building has been determined to be within the scope of this division. The same section states that the Department shall file a certificate terminating the above recorded status if the building is thereafter demolished, found not to be within the scope, or is determined to be structurally capable of resisting minimum seismic forces as a result of structural alterations or analysis. §91.9310.2 states that the responsible engineer or architect shall provide statements on the approved plans — design-time plan text, not an Order-dismiss act. §91.9305.1 states that a civil or structural engineer or architect licensed by the state of California prepares the structural analysis. The ordinance does not list a lender PML/SEL as what closes the Order.

Does a lender PML/SEL satisfy Ordinance 183893 documentation requirements?

No. A PML (Probable Maximum Loss) or SEL (Scenario Expected Loss) is a Freddie Mac multifamily real estate appraisal per ASTM E2026 for earthquake collateral risk. Ordinance 183893 lists: §91.9306.6 lists County Recorder recordation at order service and a later certificate terminating the recorded status after demolition, not-in-scope finding, or structural alterations or analysis. §91.9310.2 lists engineer/architect statements on the approved plans (design-time text, not an Order-dismiss act). §91.9305.1 lists civil or structural engineer or architect. (a California civil or structural engineer or architect per §91.9305.1).

Why is ordinance-specific documentation required?

Ordinance 183893 mandates specific retrofit standards and documentation procedures. §91.9306.6 lists County Recorder recordation at order service and a later certificate terminating the recorded status after demolition, not-in-scope finding, or structural alterations or analysis. §91.9310.2 lists engineer/architect statements on the approved plans (design-time text, not an Order-dismiss act). §91.9305.1 lists civil or structural engineer or architect. A lender PML/SEL does not close the Order. Lender PML/SEL appraisals prepared for Freddie Mac underwriting do not satisfy city ordinance documentation standards because they serve different purposes and recipients.

What documentation does a non-ductile concrete building submit under Ordinance 183893?

Per Ordinance 183893 §91.9504.2, the owner submits "a completed checklist for the Department to review and approve" within three (3) years of the order, then "a detailed evaluation of the building" within ten (10) years, and completes "all necessary demolition or retrofit work on the building" within twenty-five (25) years. The LADBS checklist carries the Engineer of Record's statement on whether the building is within the scope of LABC Chapter 95.

Who provides the County Recorder certificate versus the statement on the approved plans?

The Department files the County Recorder certificate (§91.9306.6) — scope/order at service; terminating certificate after alterations/analysis. A California civil or structural engineer or architect (§91.9305.1) provides the statement on the approved plans (§91.9310.2). Lender PML/SEL (Probable Maximum Loss / Scenario Expected Loss) is a Freddie Mac real estate appraisal for earthquake collateral risk (ASTM E2026) and does not close the Order.

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