CALIFORNIA · LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Where the Pacific meets the Port of Long Beach
Low basic wind, high port exposure: ocean-edge design under the California Building Code and ASCE 7-22, where seismic leads and sea-breeze gusts shape the cladding.
MARINE CLIMATE · SHORELINE EXPOSURE
Mild basic wind, but the water raises the bar
San Pedro Bay keeps Long Beach's basic wind speed low, yet the same open fetch that calms the climate drives Exposure C and D pressures right at the waterline. The marine layer and afternoon sea breeze define the everyday wind, while seismic still governs the structure.
90-100 mph off the bay
Cold Pacific currents block hurricanes and tornadoes; the maps reflect winter storms and the daily onshore sea breeze, not tropical wind.
LOW-WIND COASTInland B, shoreline D
Dense neighborhoods read Exposure B; the open water of San Pedro Bay pushes the wharf and terminals to Exposure D, the harshest category.
SECTION 26.7Newport-Inglewood leads
The fault that broke in the 1933 Long Beach quake runs through the city, so earthquake loads usually drive the lateral system over wind.
CBC CH. 16PORT OF LONG BEACH · WATERFRONT
Exposure D at the nation's busiest container gateway
The wharf changes the math. Open San Pedro Bay fetch, tall ship-to-shore cranes, and salt air all push wind detailing well past what inland Long Beach ever sees.
Gantry cranes
Ship-to-shore and rail-mounted cranes need both operational tie-down and ultimate storm wind cases.
OPEN FRAMEExposure D water fetch
Flat, unobstructed water beyond 5,000 ft upwind gives the wharf the highest Kz/Kh of any local site.
+66% VS BTerminal roofs
Large-area warehouse and terminal roofs take heavy uplift from steady onshore winds.
UPLIFTSalt-air corrosion
Marine exposure demands enhanced corrosion protection so steel keeps its wind capacity over time.
DURABILITYQueen Mary & historic harbor: the moored RMS Queen Mary and other waterfront landmarks carry non-standard ship geometry, combined wind-and-wave mooring forces, and high-occupancy Risk Category III duty. Port authority guidance is published by the Port of Long Beach.
COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
Six calls that pass Long Beach plan check
From the right velocity to the correct shoreline exposure, these decisions drive an approvable submittal.
Right wind speed
90-100 mph for Risk Cat II; higher for III & IV. Confirm the locally adopted value for the address.
3-SEC GUSTShoreline exposure
Don't blanket the city as B; check each wind direction for C or D where Belmont Shore, the bay, or the harbor open up.
TERRAINCurrent CBC edition
California refreshes Title 24 on a 3-year cycle and references ASCE 7-22 for wind.
TITLE 24Components & cladding
Windows, doors, roof panels and wall cladding can be wind-critical even where seismic governs the frame.
C&CRight Risk Category
Schools, assembly >300, port terminals and hospitals read a higher-MRI speed map per Table 1.5-1.
TABLE 1.5-1California PE seal
Engineered and commercial designs need calcs sealed by a California-licensed PE for plan check.
PE-SEALEDLiquefaction note: low-lying harbor and bay fill carries high liquefaction potential, so waterfront projects pair wind cases with a geotechnical investigation. Permits run through the City of Long Beach Development Services Department.
OFFICIAL REFERENCES
Long Beach building resources
Authoritative sources for permits, port guidance, code and licensing.
NEARBY · STATEWIDE
Explore more wind requirements
California context and location tools for your next project.
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Automate your Long Beach wind loads
Enter a Long Beach address or zip and get ASCE 7-22 compliant MWFRS and C&C pressures, the right shoreline exposure, and PE-ready reports for City of Long Beach submittal.