Form BOE-64, Claim for Seismic Safety Construction Exclusion From Assessment, is the claim a property owner files with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk to keep the cost of qualifying seismic retrofitting out of the property's assessment. It is one of the forms published by the San Bernardino County Assessor, and the claim is due before or within 30 days of completing construction. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The agency publishes the original at arc.sbcounty.gov.
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What is BOE-64?
Form BOE-64, Claim for Seismic Safety Construction Exclusion From Assessment, is the form a property owner files with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk to claim the exclusion that Revenue and Taxation Code section 74.5 gives to seismic work on an existing structure.
The form explains that section 74.5 excludes from assessment the portion of an existing structure that consists of the construction and reconstruction of seismic components. To receive the exclusion, the claim must be filed with the Assessor before, or within 30 days of, completion of the project.
The form defines the work that counts. "Seismic retrofitting components" means seismic retrofitting improvements and improvements utilizing earthquake hazard mitigation technologies. Retrofitting improvements include abating falling hazards, such as parapets, appendages, cornices, hanging objects and building cladding, and structural strengthening to resist seismic forces. They do not include alterations made alongside the seismic work, such as new plumbing, electrical or added finishing materials.
The owner, primary contractor, civil or structural engineer, or architect certifies to the building department which portions of the project are seismic retrofitting components. When the project is complete, the building department reports the costs of those portions to the Assessor.
The form states that the exclusion expires upon change in ownership of the property. The county's forms page also lists separate exclusion claims, such as the Solar Exclusion Form – New Construction (BOE-64-SES) and the Initial Purchaser Claim for Rain Water Capture System New Construction Exclusion (BOE-64-RWC); this form covers seismic safety construction only. The form is marked as subject to public inspection.
Who needs to file BOE-64?
The property owner who has built, or is building, seismic retrofitting work on an existing building or structure in San Bernardino County and wants that portion kept out of the assessment files this claim with the Assessor.
The form ties the exclusion to specific work:
- The work must be seismic retrofitting components as defined in Revenue and Taxation Code section 74.5(b)(2): retrofitting or reconstruction that abates falling hazards or strengthens the structure against seismic forces, or improvements using earthquake hazard mitigation technologies for buildings a local government has identified as hazardous to life in an earthquake.
- New plumbing, electrical or added finishing materials made in addition to the seismic work are not seismic retrofitting improvements.
The claim form asks whether the property owner, primary contractor, civil or structural engineer, or architect has certified the seismic retrofitting portions of the project to the building department. Any of them may make that certification, but the form says the owner files the supporting documents with the Assessor. The exclusion ends when ownership of the property changes, so a new owner should not assume it carries over.
When to file BOE-64
File Form BOE-64 with the Assessor before completion of construction or within 30 days of completion; the form states that the claim must be filed prior to, or within 30 days of, completion of the project.
The form has a field for the date, or anticipated date, of completion, so you can file before the work is finished. The exclusion is not received if the claim is filed after the 30-day window.
A second deadline applies to evidence: all documents necessary to support the exclusion must be filed with the Assessor by the property owner not later than six months after completion of the project.
The exclusion is not permanent. The form states that it expires upon change in ownership of the property.
Documents you need
- All documents necessary to support the exclusion, filed with the Assessor by the property owner no later than six months after completion of the project; the form does not list specific document types.
- The certification of the seismic retrofitting portions of the project, made by the property owner, primary contractor, civil or structural engineer, or architect to the building department; the form asks whether it has been made.
How to fill out BOE-64
Check the claimant name and address
In the CLAIMANT NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS block, review the printed name and mailing address and make any necessary corrections.
Leave the Assessor's box blank
Do not complete FOR ASSESSOR'S USE ONLY (date received, approved or denied, reason for denial); the office fills it in.
Print the claimant's name
Under CLAIMANT'S NAME (PLEASE PRINT), enter the name of the person making the claim.
Enter the parcel number
Write the property's ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NUMBER in the field provided.
Add the property address
Fill in STREET ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT THAN MAILING ADDRESS), CITY and ZIP CODE only if the property is not at the mailing address.
Enter the completion date
In DATE (OR ANTICIPATED DATE) OF COMPLETION, enter the actual or expected completion date of the construction. File the claim before, or within 30 days of, that date.
Give your contact details
Enter your DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER with area code and your E-MAIL ADDRESS.
Answer the certification question
Mark YES or NO on whether the property owner, primary contractor, civil or structural engineer, or architect has certified to the building department the portions of the project that are seismic retrofitting components under section 74.5(b)(2).
Read the exclusion terms
Review the statement that the exclusion expires upon change in ownership and the definitions of seismic retrofitting components before you certify.
Sign, date and download the PDF
Sign and date at SIGNATURE OF PERSON MAKING CLAIM, then check every entry. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and file it with the Assessor as described under How to submit.
How to submit BOE-64
File the claim with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. The form prints one office address, two phone numbers and a website, and names no other channel.
- Office: Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, San Bernardino County, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 4th Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0311.
- Phone: 909-387-8307 or 1-877-885-7654, to ask the office how it accepts the claim and the supporting documents.
- Website: arc.sbcounty.gov, where the county lists the form with its other Assessor forms at https://arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/.
The claim must be filed before, or within 30 days of, completion of construction. The property owner files the supporting documents with the Assessor no later than six months after completion. The form contains certification wording for a signature made electronically; confirm with the office how it accepts the signed claim. The form does not mention a fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the agency's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing the claim more than 30 days after completion of construction; the form says it must be filed before or within 30 days of completion.
- Not filing the supporting documents with the Assessor within six months after completion of the project.
- Leaving the YES/NO certification question unanswered when it asks whether the seismic retrofitting portions were certified to the building department.
- Treating new plumbing, electrical or added finishing materials as seismic retrofitting; the form excludes them from the definition.
- Skipping the correction of the printed claimant name and mailing address when they are wrong; the form asks for necessary corrections.
- Writing in the FOR ASSESSOR'S USE ONLY box (date received, approved or denied, reason for denial), which is reserved for the office.
- Sending the claim unsigned or undated; the certification requires the signature of the person making the claim and a date.
- Assuming the exclusion continues after the property is sold; the form states it expires upon change in ownership.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form BOE-64 used for?
Form BOE-64 is the San Bernardino County claim for the Seismic Safety Construction Exclusion From Assessment. It asks the Assessor to exclude from assessment the portion of an existing structure that consists of seismic retrofitting components, under Revenue and Taxation Code section 74.5.
When is the BOE-64 claim due?
The claim must be filed with the Assessor before, or within 30 days of, completion of construction. The owner must also file all documents needed to support the exclusion with the Assessor no later than six months after completion of the project.
Does the seismic exclusion stay with the property if I sell it?
No. The form states that the exclusion expires upon change in ownership of the property. A new owner does not inherit it automatically.
What counts as seismic retrofitting on this form?
Work that abates falling hazards, such as parapets, cornices and building cladding, or strengthens a structure against seismic forces, plus improvements using earthquake hazard mitigation technologies. New plumbing, electrical or added finishing materials made alongside the seismic work do not count.
Who certifies the seismic work to the building department?
The property owner, primary contractor, civil or structural engineer, or architect certifies to the building department which portions of the project are seismic retrofitting components. After completion, the building department reports their costs to the Assessor.
Where do I file Form BOE-64 in San Bernardino County?
File it with the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, 222 W. Hospitality Lane, 4th Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0311. The form also lists 909-387-8307, 1-877-885-7654 and arc.sbcounty.gov; call to confirm how the office accepts claims.
Can I fill out Form BOE-64 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the claim; you submit it to the San Bernardino County Assessor through the agency's channels.
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