Structural engineering · Los Angeles, CA

Structural Engineering Services in Los Angeles, CA

Connect with engineering firms serving Los Angeles and the surrounding metro area. Common work runs from load-bearing wall removals and ADUs to soft-story retrofits, hillside foundations and more.

Also searched as: residential structural engineer Los Angeles CA · stamped structural calculations Los Angeles · Los Angeles ADU structural engineer · LA soft-story retrofit engineer · structural engineer near me Los Angeles

Find an engineer in Los Angeles Start a beam design

Local code & loads

Los Angeles building code & ASCE 7 design loads

Los Angeles enforces the 2025 California Building Code (CBC), based on the 2024 IBC, with City of Los Angeles amendments (LABC). Stamped calculations submitted for permit reference the design parameters below.

Values shown for reference only — project-specific values from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool should be used for engineering design at the actual project address.

ASCE 7 design parameters

Default values used for most residential and light-commercial projects in Los Angeles. Site Class and seismic spectral values may shift based on geotechnical investigation.

Building code	2025 California Building Code (CBC), based on the 2024 IBC, with City of Los Angeles amendments (LABC)
ASCE 7 edition	ASCE 7-22
Seismic Sₛ	2.25g
Seismic S₁	0.72g
Site class	Default
SᴅS	1.58g
Sᴅ₁	1.11g
Seismic Design Category	D
Ultimate wind speed	95 mph
Ground snow load	0 psf

Risk Category II assumed for typical residential and light commercial use — confirm with your engineer if the occupancy or use may require a higher category.

Los Angeles is high-seismic country and many sites land in Seismic Design Category E. Several active faults run through the basin, including the Newport-Inglewood Fault and the Puente Hills blind thrust beneath downtown. Soils range from alluvium and expansive clay to liquefaction-prone areas with shallow groundwater, and parts of the city carry mapped methane zones. The values below are regional placeholders only. Always pull site-specific values from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool (https://ascehazardtool.org) for the actual project address.

Common projects engineers design in Los Angeles

The work engineers handle frequently in Los Angeles and the surrounding Los Angeles County.

Load-bearing wall removals and open-concept remodels
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and garage conversions
Soft-story (tuck-under parking) seismic retrofit
Room additions and second-story additions
Hillside foundation design and retaining walls
Deck, balcony, and rooftop deck structures
Rooftop solar array structural verification
Seismic retrofit of older wood-frame homes

What's different about Los Angeles

Local conditions that affect structural design

City-specific factors that show up in many Los Angeles calculations — and the things plan reviewers look for.

Los Angeles is one of the most seismically demanding places to build in the country. With several active faults under the basin, lateral design and a continuous load path drive almost every structural project, and many sites fall in Seismic Design Category E.

The city's mandatory soft-story ordinance has kept retrofit work steady for years. Older apartment buildings with tuck-under parking need a designed bracing or frame system, and there is a parallel program for non-ductile concrete buildings.

ADUs and garage conversions are a huge part of residential work here. Most need stamped calculations for new beams, openings, and foundations, and many older garages need foundation upgrades to convert.

Hillside neighborhoods bring steep slopes, landslide history, and grading rules, so retaining walls, caisson foundations, and slope setbacks come up often. A geotechnical or engineering-geology report is usually part of the package.

Soils vary widely across the basin, from expansive clay to liquefaction-prone areas with shallow groundwater, and parts of the city sit in mapped methane zones that affect foundation and ventilation design.

Permits

Where to submit your Los Angeles permit

Stamped calculations from clearspan are submitted directly to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Most residential structural submittals are reviewed online.

Building department

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)

201 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 482-6800

Visit the building department →

Submittal notes

LADBS handles permits inside the City of Los Angeles, and the city enforces its own amendments (the LABC) on top of the California code. Neighboring cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County are separate jurisdictions with their own departments. The city also runs mandatory retrofit programs for soft-story and non-ductile concrete buildings. Confirm which agency has authority for the project address before submitting.

FAQ

Structural engineering in Los Angeles — FAQs

The questions Los Angeles contractors and homeowners ask most often.

Do I need an engineer to remove a wall in my Los Angeles home?+

If the wall is load-bearing, stamped structural calculations from an engineer will help you avoid plan-review comments from LADBS and keep the permit moving.

Does my LA apartment building fall under the soft-story retrofit ordinance?+

The city's mandatory program generally covers older wood-frame buildings with soft or open ground floors, such as tuck-under parking. An engineer can screen the building, confirm whether it qualifies, and design the retrofit if it does.

How quickly can I get stamped calculations for a Los Angeles permit?+

Most residential beam and wall-removal calculations are turned around within a few business days through clearspan's process. Timelines depend on scope, and availability of an engineer to review and accept the design through clearspan.

Nearby cities

Structural engineers in other Los Angeles Metro cities

Browse city pages for nearby jurisdictions.

Glendale, CA→Long Beach, CA→Pasadena, CA→Bakersfield, CA→Citrus Heights, CA→Clovis, CA→

Find a structural engineer →Structural engineering services →Structural engineering guides →For engineering firms →

Need a beam designed quickly in Los Angeles?

Submit your project details and get a design in minutes, then submit to a licensed California engineer for review.

Get started