§ 9601. PURPOSE

This Chapter promotes public safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death or injury otherwise resulting from earthquake damage to certain buildings constructed before March 20, 1933, which have insufficient resistance to moderate or strong earthquakes.

The provisions of this Chapter constitute minimum standards for structural seismic resistance established primarily to reduce the risk of loss of life and injury. Compliance with these standards will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury or prevent earthquake damage to an existing building. This Chapter shall not require existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fire safety systems to be altered unless they constitute a hazard to life or property.

This Chapter provides systematic procedures and standards for identification and classification of these buildings based on their present use. Priorities, time periods, and standards are also established under which these buildings are required to be structurally analyzed and anchored. Where the analysis identifies deficiencies, this Chapter requires the building to be strengthened or demolished.

(Ord. 2013-0048 § 85, 2013; Ord. 2010-0053 § 83, 2010.)