If the city has sent you an Order to Comply, this gets you to a budget before you commission an engineer. It also shows what the Los Angeles Housing Department pass-through recovers, which most owners underestimate.
This is a planning estimate, not a quote and not a bid. The rates behind it come from Los Angeles County projects and published 2026 cost data, reviewed 2026-10-29. Real pricing needs a site visit, because the things that move a construction budget most are rarely visible from the street. America General Contractors, California contractor licence CSLB 1083262.
Questions about this estimate
How do I know if my building is on the list?
The city sends an Order to Comply to the owner of record. If your building is wood-frame, has two or more storeys, was built before 1978 and has parking tucked under the units, it almost certainly qualifies. We can check it for you against the city's records.
What are the deadlines?
They run from the date of your Order to Comply: two years to submit plans, three and a half years to pull the permit, seven years to finish. Those orders went out between May 2016 and October 2017, so the original windows have closed. If you are holding one and have not acted, you are past due.
Can my tenants stay during the work?
Yes, almost always. The work happens at the parking level and the ground floor. Parking is phased so only part of it is out at a time, and units upstairs stay occupied throughout.
How much can I pass through to tenants?
In the City of Los Angeles, owners of rent-stabilized buildings can apply to recover up to 50 percent of the retrofit cost, divided equally between the units, capped at $38 per unit per month and amortized over 120 months. It needs housing department approval and proper cost documentation, which we prepare.
Read more
For the full picture, see seismic retrofit & foundation repair and the soft-story retrofit guide for la apartment owners.
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