diff --git a/src/OpenRoad.cc b/src/OpenRoad.cc
index eef476375e0..3a2f924c32d 100644
--- a/src/OpenRoad.cc
+++ b/src/OpenRoad.cc
@@ -563,8 +563,8 @@ void OpenRoad::readDb(const char* filename, bool hierarchy)
 void OpenRoad::readDb(std::istream& stream)
 {
   if (db_->getChip() && db_->getChip()->getBlock()) {
-    logger_->error(
-        ORD, 47, "You can't load a new db file as the db is already populated");
+    db_->triggerPreDbClear();
+    db_->clear();
   }
 
   stream.exceptions(std::ifstream::failbit | std::ifstream::badbit
diff --git a/src/dbSta/include/db_sta/dbSta.hh b/src/dbSta/include/db_sta/dbSta.hh
index 2c66a95a89c..43ef6b9502f 100644
--- a/src/dbSta/include/db_sta/dbSta.hh
+++ b/src/dbSta/include/db_sta/dbSta.hh
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ class dbSta : public Sta, public odb::dbDatabaseObserver
   void postReadDef(odb::dbBlock* block) override;
   void postReadDb(odb::dbDatabase* db) override;
   void postRead3Dbx(odb::dbChip* chip) override;
+  void preDbClear(odb::dbDatabase* db) override;
 
   // Find clock nets connected by combinational gates from the clock roots.
   std::set<odb::dbNet*> findClkNets();
diff --git a/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc b/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
index 763b4f1a956..b09b74189d0 100644
--- a/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
+++ b/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
@@ -704,6 +704,8 @@ void dbNetwork::clear()
 {
   ConcreteNetwork::clear();
   db_ = nullptr;
+  block_ = nullptr;
+  top_cell_ = nullptr;
 }
 
 Instance* dbNetwork::topInstance() const
diff --git a/src/dbSta/src/dbSta.cc b/src/dbSta/src/dbSta.cc
index 6577b50111e..edfdbe0bf53 100644
--- a/src/dbSta/src/dbSta.cc
+++ b/src/dbSta/src/dbSta.cc
@@ -323,6 +323,27 @@ void dbSta::postReadDb(odb::dbDatabase* db)
   }
 }
 
+void dbSta::preDbClear(odb::dbDatabase* db)
+{
+  db_cbk_->removeOwner();
+  // Clear staCell pointers on all masters before freeing the network.
+  // The GUI render thread may still be accessing these concurrently.
+  for (odb::dbLib* lib : db->getLibs()) {
+    for (odb::dbMaster* master : lib->getMasters()) {
+      master->staSetCell(nullptr);
+    }
+  }
+  // Delete scenes before clearing the network, since scenes hold
+  // LibertyLibrary pointers that ConcreteNetwork::clear() will free.
+  // Recreate the default scene so cmd_scene_ remains valid.
+  deleteScenes();
+  makeDefaultScene();
+  clear();
+  db_network_->clear();
+  // Restore db_ since dbNetwork::clear() nulls it, but we need it for reload
+  db_network_->init(db_, logger_);
+}
+
 float dbSta::slack(const odb::dbNet* db_net, const MinMax* min_max)
 {
   const Net* net = db_network_->dbToSta(db_net);
diff --git a/src/grt/include/grt/GlobalRouter.h b/src/grt/include/grt/GlobalRouter.h
index 4a947c30fd1..3fa4140d669 100644
--- a/src/grt/include/grt/GlobalRouter.h
+++ b/src/grt/include/grt/GlobalRouter.h
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ class GlobalRouter
   odb::dbDatabase* db() const { return db_; }
   FastRouteCore* fastroute() const { return fastroute_; }
   Rudy* getRudy();
+  void clearRudy();
 
   void writePinLocations(const char* file_name);
 
diff --git a/src/grt/src/GlobalRouter.cpp b/src/grt/src/GlobalRouter.cpp
index 201b5e70142..de2ed3847c4 100644
--- a/src/grt/src/GlobalRouter.cpp
+++ b/src/grt/src/GlobalRouter.cpp
@@ -1138,6 +1138,12 @@ Rudy* GlobalRouter::getRudy()
   return rudy_;
 }
 
+void GlobalRouter::clearRudy()
+{
+  delete rudy_;
+  rudy_ = nullptr;
+}
+
 bool GlobalRouter::findPinAccessPointPositions(
     const Pin& pin,
     std::map<int, std::vector<PointPair>>& ap_positions,
diff --git a/src/grt/src/heatMap.h b/src/grt/src/heatMap.h
index 49bd81a7db2..3a0301e2f83 100644
--- a/src/grt/src/heatMap.h
+++ b/src/grt/src/heatMap.h
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ class RoutingCongestionDataSource : public gui::GlobalRoutingDataSource
  public:
   RoutingCongestionDataSource(utl::Logger* logger, odb::dbDatabase* db);
 
+  void setChip(odb::dbChip* chip) override
+  {
+    layer_ = nullptr;
+    HeatMapDataSource::setChip(chip);
+  }
+
  protected:
   bool populateMap() override;
   void combineMapData(bool base_has_value,
diff --git a/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.cpp b/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.cpp
index 0902e272bdd..fac11300db7 100644
--- a/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.cpp
+++ b/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.cpp
@@ -156,6 +156,17 @@ bool RUDYDataSource::populateMap()
   return true;
 }
 
+void RUDYDataSource::setChip(odb::dbChip* chip)
+{
+  grouter_->clearRudy();
+  rudy_ = nullptr;
+  removeOwner();
+  HeatMapDataSource::setChip(chip);
+  if (chip && chip->getBlock()) {
+    addOwner(chip->getBlock());
+  }
+}
+
 void RUDYDataSource::onShow()
 {
   HeatMapDataSource::onShow();
diff --git a/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.h b/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.h
index 3527d4a7aae..ca631a39fec 100644
--- a/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.h
+++ b/src/grt/src/heatMapRudy.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class RUDYDataSource : public gui::GlobalRoutingDataSource,
                  grt::GlobalRouter* grouter,
                  odb::dbDatabase* db);
 
+  void setChip(odb::dbChip* chip) override;
   void onShow() override;
   void onHide() override;
 
diff --git a/src/gui/include/gui/heatMap.h b/src/gui/include/gui/heatMap.h
index df182b01570..07c342964ad 100644
--- a/src/gui/include/gui/heatMap.h
+++ b/src/gui/include/gui/heatMap.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class HeatMapDataSource
     std::string name;
     std::string label;
     std::function<std::vector<std::string>()> choices;
-    std::function<const std::string()> getter;
+    std::function<std::string()> getter;
     std::function<void(const std::string&)> setter;
   };
 
@@ -92,7 +92,13 @@ class HeatMapDataSource
 
   void registerHeatMap();
 
-  virtual void setChip(odb::dbChip* chip) { chip_ = chip; }
+  virtual void setChip(odb::dbChip* chip)
+  {
+    if (chip_ != chip) {
+      destroyMap();
+    }
+    chip_ = chip;
+  }
   void setUseDBU(bool use_dbu) { use_dbu_ = use_dbu; }
   bool getUseDBU() const { return use_dbu_; }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/src/displayControls.cpp b/src/gui/src/displayControls.cpp
index b6931490935..10b4ee1ecbf 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/displayControls.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/displayControls.cpp
@@ -2163,6 +2163,36 @@ void DisplayControls::techInit(odb::dbTech* tech)
   techs_.insert(tech);
 }
 
+void DisplayControls::clearTechData()
+{
+  // Remove layer leaf rows but preserve sub-group items (implant, other)
+  // by clearing children of each sub-group first, then removing only
+  // direct layer rows from the layers group.
+  layers_.implant.name->removeRows(0, layers_.implant.name->rowCount());
+  layers_.other.name->removeRows(0, layers_.other.name->rowCount());
+
+  // Remove direct children (routing/cut layers) from layers_group_, but
+  // keep the implant and other sub-group rows. Walk in reverse to avoid
+  // index shifting.
+  for (int i = layers_group_.name->rowCount() - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
+    QStandardItem* child = layers_group_.name->child(i);
+    if (child != layers_.implant.name && child != layers_.other.name) {
+      layers_group_.name->removeRow(i);
+    }
+  }
+
+  site_group_.name->removeRows(0, site_group_.name->rowCount());
+
+  // Clear ODB-keyed maps
+  layer_controls_.clear();
+  site_controls_.clear();
+  layer_color_.clear();
+  layer_pattern_.clear();
+  site_color_.clear();
+  techs_.clear();
+  layers_menu_layer_ = nullptr;
+}
+
 void DisplayControls::blockLoaded(odb::dbBlock* block)
 {
   addTech(block->getTech());
diff --git a/src/gui/src/displayControls.h b/src/gui/src/displayControls.h
index 6f6f0bf6667..fe12e21ebac 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/displayControls.h
+++ b/src/gui/src/displayControls.h
@@ -272,6 +272,9 @@ class DisplayControls : public QDockWidget,
   // options displayed need to match
   void blockLoaded(odb::dbBlock* block);
 
+  // Clears all ODB-derived display state (layers, sites) for DB reload
+  void clearTechData();
+
   void setCurrentChip(odb::dbChip* chip);
 
   // This is called by the check boxes to update the state
diff --git a/src/gui/src/heatMapCore.cpp b/src/gui/src/heatMapCore.cpp
index 4cebbc04c7d..8ed9eb150d3 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/heatMapCore.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/heatMapCore.cpp
@@ -397,7 +397,6 @@ Renderer::Settings HeatMapDataSource::getSettings() const
       settings[set.name] = set.getter();
     }
   }
-
   return settings;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.cpp b/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.cpp
index d7649ef05e2..5e1513f8e13 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.cpp
@@ -130,8 +130,30 @@ void LayoutTabs::chipLoaded(odb::dbChip* chip)
   emit newViewer(viewer);
 }
 
+void LayoutTabs::clearViewers()
+{
+  // Stop render threads before destroying viewers to avoid
+  // deleting a running QThread.
+  for (LayoutViewer* viewer : viewers_) {
+    viewer->exit();
+  }
+  // QTabWidget::clear() removes all tabs and deletes the page widgets
+  // (LayoutScroll), which are parents of the LayoutViewer widgets.
+  QTabWidget::clear();
+  viewers_.clear();
+  current_viewer_ = nullptr;
+  modules_.clear();
+  focus_nets_.clear();
+  route_guides_.clear();
+  net_tracks_.clear();
+}
+
 void LayoutTabs::tabChange(int index)
 {
+  if (index < 0 || index >= static_cast<int>(viewers_.size())) {
+    current_viewer_ = nullptr;
+    return;
+  }
   current_viewer_ = viewers_[index];
 
   emit setCurrentChip(current_viewer_->getChip());
diff --git a/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.h b/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.h
index a0422f29227..4db63e8f78d 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.h
+++ b/src/gui/src/layoutTabs.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ class LayoutTabs : public QTabWidget
   void tabChange(int index);
   void updateBackgroundColors();
   void updateBackgroundColor(LayoutViewer* viewer);
+  void clearViewers();
 
   // These are just forwarding to the current LayoutViewer
   void zoomIn();
diff --git a/src/gui/src/mainWindow.cpp b/src/gui/src/mainWindow.cpp
index fd93eadb6fc..8223fc9248a 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/mainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/mainWindow.cpp
@@ -1629,6 +1629,10 @@ void MainWindow::selectHighlightConnectedBufferTrees(bool select_flag,
 
 void MainWindow::saveSettings()
 {
+  // Stop render threads before saving settings to avoid races
+  // between the render thread and the main thread.
+  viewers_->exit();
+
   QSettings settings("OpenRoad Project", "openroad");
   settings.beginGroup("main");
   settings.setValue("geometry", saveGeometry());
@@ -1662,6 +1666,17 @@ void MainWindow::postRead3Dbx(odb::dbChip* chip)
   emit chipLoaded(chip);
 }
 
+void MainWindow::preDbClear(odb::dbDatabase* db)
+{
+  selected_.clear();
+  for (auto& highlighted_set : highlighted_) {
+    highlighted_set.clear();
+  }
+  viewers_->clearViewers();
+  controls_->clearTechData();
+  setBlock(nullptr);
+}
+
 void MainWindow::postReadDb(odb::dbDatabase* db)
 {
   auto chip = db->getChip();
diff --git a/src/gui/src/mainWindow.h b/src/gui/src/mainWindow.h
index 9df989b3dd3..ce122b09f54 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/mainWindow.h
+++ b/src/gui/src/mainWindow.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class MainWindow : public QMainWindow, public odb::dbDatabaseObserver
   void postReadDef(odb::dbBlock* block) override;
   void postReadDb(odb::dbDatabase* db) override;
   void postRead3Dbx(odb::dbChip* chip) override;
+  void preDbClear(odb::dbDatabase* db) override;
 
   // Capture logger messages into the script widget output
   void setLogger(utl::Logger* logger);
diff --git a/src/odb/include/odb/db.h b/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
index cd80da4ef81..588e21692eb 100644
--- a/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
+++ b/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
@@ -7716,6 +7716,7 @@ class dbDatabase : public dbObject
   void triggerPostReadDef(dbBlock* block, bool floorplan);
   void triggerPostReadDb();
   void triggerPostRead3Dbx(dbChip* chip);
+  void triggerPreDbClear();
 
   ///
   /// Create an instance of a database
diff --git a/src/odb/include/odb/dbDatabaseObserver.h b/src/odb/include/odb/dbDatabaseObserver.h
index 05ff66327ec..99a9f69a409 100644
--- a/src/odb/include/odb/dbDatabaseObserver.h
+++ b/src/odb/include/odb/dbDatabaseObserver.h
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ class dbDatabaseObserver
   virtual void postReadDb(odb::dbDatabase* db) = 0;
   virtual void postRead3Dbx(odb::dbChip* chip) = 0;
 
+  // Called before the database is cleared for a reload
+  virtual void preDbClear(odb::dbDatabase* /*db*/) {}
+
   void setUnregisterObserver(std::function<void()> unregister_observer)
   {
     unregister_observer_ = std::move(unregister_observer);
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
index 83a5fec5d6e..f115f6ebca5 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <ostream>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
+#include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "absl/synchronization/mutex.h"
@@ -478,6 +479,24 @@ _dbDatabase::_dbDatabase(_dbDatabase* /* unused: db */, int id)
 
   chip_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbChip, 2>(
       this, this, (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable, dbChipObj);
+  chip_hash_.setTable(chip_tbl_);
+
+  chip_inst_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbChipInst>(
+      this, this, (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable, dbChipInstObj);
+  chip_region_inst_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbChipRegionInst>(
+      this,
+      this,
+      (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable,
+      dbChipRegionInstObj);
+  chip_conn_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbChipConn>(
+      this, this, (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable, dbChipConnObj);
+  chip_bump_inst_tbl_
+      = new dbTable<_dbChipBumpInst>(this,
+                                     this,
+                                     (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable,
+                                     dbChipBumpInstObj);
+  chip_net_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbChipNet>(
+      this, this, (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable, dbChipNetObj);
 
   gds_lib_tbl_ = new dbTable<_dbGDSLib, 2>(
       this, this, (GetObjTbl_t) &_dbDatabase::getObjectTable, dbGdsLibObj);
@@ -925,8 +944,14 @@ void dbDatabase::clear()
 {
   _dbDatabase* db = (_dbDatabase*) this;
   int id = db->unique_id_;
+  // Save session-level state that was set up during init and is not
+  // part of the database content being cleared.
+  auto observers = std::move(db->observers_);
+  utl::Logger* logger = db->logger_;
   db->~_dbDatabase();
   new (db) _dbDatabase(db, id);
+  db->observers_ = std::move(observers);
+  db->logger_ = logger;
 }
 
 void dbDatabase::destroy(dbDatabase* db_)
@@ -1029,6 +1054,14 @@ void dbDatabase::triggerPostReadDb()
   }
 }
 
+void dbDatabase::triggerPreDbClear()
+{
+  _dbDatabase* db = (_dbDatabase*) this;
+  for (dbDatabaseObserver* observer : db->observers_) {
+    observer->preDbClear(this);
+  }
+}
+
 // User Code End dbDatabasePublicMethods
 }  // namespace odb
 // Generator Code End Cpp
diff --git a/src/psm/src/heatMap.cpp b/src/psm/src/heatMap.cpp
index 347ceac0bb1..faed2592e03 100644
--- a/src/psm/src/heatMap.cpp
+++ b/src/psm/src/heatMap.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ IRDropDataSource::IRDropDataSource(PDNSim* psm,
 
 void IRDropDataSource::setChip(odb::dbChip* chip)
 {
+  layer_ = nullptr;
+  net_ = nullptr;
+  corner_ = nullptr;
   gui::HeatMapDataSource::setChip(chip);
   if (chip != nullptr) {
     odb::dbBlock* block = chip->getBlock();
diff --git a/src/web/src/search.cpp b/src/web/src/search.cpp
index e82ef1a82b8..4907937ef5b 100644
--- a/src/web/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/web/src/search.cpp
@@ -203,10 +203,13 @@ void Search::setTopChip(odb::dbChip* chip)
     return;
   }
   odb::dbBlock* block = chip->getBlock();
-  if (top_chip_ != chip) {
+  // Re-initialize when the chip changed or when the previous block was
+  // destroyed (e.g. after a database reload via read_db).  The block
+  // destructor calls removeOwner() which clears hasOwner().
+  if (top_chip_ != chip || !hasOwner()) {
     clear();
 
-    if (top_chip_ != nullptr) {
+    if (hasOwner()) {
       removeOwner();
     }