On three projects, one a class action law suit and two involving readjustment of insurance claims, we evaluated the impact of the 1994 Mw 6.7 Northridge, California earthquake on over 1,600 residential properties. For each of the properties, we reviewed previous reports on the condition of the site immediately after the earthquake, undertook a site visit to observe current conditions, undertook site-specific geotechnical investigations, as appropriate, and documented our findings on the impact of long-term and earthquakerelated geotechnical factors on property damage. We have identified the following significant geotechnical factors that contribute to residential earthquake damage: (a) hillside sites; (b) cut/fill transitions; (c) expansive soils; (d) liquefied sandy soils; and (e) deep soft soils. This paper summarizes and presents our findings regarding these factors for five representative case histories of residential damage in the Northridge earthquake
