Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 10 Change of Occupancy

(Title Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Section

91.2.1000 Basic Provisions.

91.2.1006 Structural.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 10 of the CEBC is hereby adopted by reference except as amended herein.

(Added by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Section 1006 of the CEBC is hereby adopted by reference except as amended herein.

91.2.1006.3. Seismic loads. Where a change of occupancy results in a building being assigned to a higher Risk Category, or where the change is from a Group S or Group U occupancy to any occupancy other than Group S or Group U, the lateral force-resisting system of the building shall comply with CEBC Section 304.3.1 for the new Risk Category. Where a change of occupancy results in a building being assigned to Risk Category IV and Seismic Design Category D or F, nonstructural components serving any portion of the building changed to Risk Category IV shall comply with the requirements of Section 1613 of the California Building Code or shall comply with ASCE 41 using an objective of operational nonstructural performance with the BSE-1N earthquake hazard level.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Where a change of use results in a building being reclassified from Risk Category I or II to Risk Category Ill and the seismic coefficient, SDS, is less than 0.33, compliance with this section is not required.

2. Where the area of the new occupancy is less than 10 percent of the building area, the occupancy is not changing from a Group S or Group U occupancy, and the new occupancy is not assigned to Risk Category IV, compliance with this section is not required. The cumulative effect of occupancy changes over time shall be considered.

3. Reserved.

4. Where the change is from a Group S or Group U occupancy and there is no change of risk category, compliance with CEBC Section 304.3.2 shall be permitted. Reduced seismic loads, in accordance with CEBC Section 304.3.2, shall be permitted provided the reduced seismic load is not less than the original building permitted seismic loads.

For a change of occupancy of an existing commercial or industrial building to residential use, all existing buildings shall be analyzed for 75 percent of the design earthquake ground motion, as defined in CBC Section 1613, but in no event shall there be a reduction in the capacity of the seismic force resisting system where that system provides a greater level of protection than the minimum requirements established by this Code.

For an existing URM building, structural analysis per CBC Chapter 16 is required if the risk category is changed to III or IV. Structural analysis per CEBC Appendix A1 is required if rating classification per LABC Division 88, Table 88-A is changed to I or II.

The most restrictive requirements of CEBC Chapter 4, and Chapters 6 through 11 shall apply.