§ 15.24

A.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote public safety and welfare by reducing the risk of death or injury that may result from the effects of earthquakes on existing unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings.

B.

The provisions of this chapter are intended as minimum standards for structural seismic resistance and established primarily to reduce the risk of life loss or injury. Compliance with these provisions will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury, or prevent earthquake damage to rehabilitated buildings.

(Code 1965, § 6-14.01.)

A.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all existing buildings having at least one unreinforced masonry bearing wall. Except as provided herein, all other provisions of the California Building Code latest adopted edition shall apply.

B.

Exceptions: The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

Detached one- or two-family dwellings and detached apartment houses containing less than five dwelling units and used solely for residential purposes.

2.

Unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings constructed of hollow concrete blocks or hollow clay tiles, if:

a.

Such building does not exceed two stories in height and it is confirmed by appropriate test results that the tile or block wall units are of bearing type and that the capacity of the wall in bearing and shear, based on net area in contact through bed joints, is not less than that allowed for solid bricks.

b.

Bonding shall also be confirmed by appropriate test results.

c.

All tests required hereunder shall be at the expense of the party seeking the exemption.

C.

This chapter shall not apply to "essential facilities" and "hazardous facilities" as defined in Table No. 23-K, or successor Table as contained in the latest adopted edition of the California Building Code.

(Code 1965, § 6-14.02.)

(Ord. No. 1555, § 9, 12-10-19)

15.24.030 - Definitions.

Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, for the purpose of this chapter, the applicable definitions and standards in the California Building Code, latest adopted edition, shall apply.

"Collar joint" means the vertical space between adjacent wythes and may contain mortar.

"Diaphragm edge" means the intersection of the horizontal diaphragm and a shear wall.

"Diaphragm shear capacity" means the depth of the diaphragm times the allowable shear value, v u D.

"Flexible diaphragm" means a diaphragm of wood construction or other construction of similar flexibility.

"Pointing" means the partial reconstruction of the bed joints of an unreinforced masonry wall as defined in California Building Code Standard No. 2442, or its successor standard as set forth in the latest adopted edition of the California Building Code.

"Unreinforced masonry (URM) wall" means a masonry wall in which the area of reinforcing steel is less than twenty-five percent of the minimum required by the California Building Code for reinforced masonry.

"Unreinforced masonry bearing wall" means a URM wall which provides the vertical support for a floor or roof for which the total superimposed load exceeds one hundred pounds per lineal foot of wall.

"Yield story drift" means the lateral displacement of one level relative to the level above or below at which yield stress is first developed in a frame member.

(Code 1965, § 6-14.04)

(Ord. No. 1555, § 10, 12-10-19; Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25)

15.24.040 - Unreinforced Masonry Program

A.

The City of Banning has adopted a Voluntary Program for Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Structures. We encourage property owners to participate in voluntary strengthening programs for the economic benefits and costs of insurance, as this City is in a high seismic hazard zone. The City does not currently offer economic benefits, tax incentives or grants to precipitate this process. The point at which the URM program becomes mandatory is at the point of desired structural improvements to older, unreinforced buildings; this will insure that all structures within the City will eventually be improved.

B.

If a structure is to become structurally unsafe, substandard or dangerous due to the building being unreinforced than all of the code provisions governing unsafe structures in CBC 116 shall apply and the strengthening of the structure may become mandatory to abate the unsafe conditions.

(Code 1965, § 6-14.05)

(Ord. No. 1555, § 11, 12-10-19; Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), adopted November 12, 2025, amended the title of § 15.24.040 to read as herein set out. The former § 15.24.040 title pertained to symbols and notations.

15.24.050 - General requirements for unreinforced masonry.

A.

Unreinforced masonry structures, upon retrofit and/or redesign shall be required to retrofit and be engineered and designed to meet the requirements of the 2025 California Building Code, Chapter 21 and ASCE 7-22 for minimum standards or better.

B.

Unreinforced masonry structures may not be improved or repurposed for a new use unless seismic retrofits are made to improve the structure to be adequate for the new use.

C.

Foundations for residential structures already in use may improve their seismic resistance without the need to fully comply with the requirements of a new structure. The City of Banning will accept plan details provided and approved by the City of Los Angeles for residential structure seismic retrofit. Retrofit plans and designs shall meet the requirements of The California Existing Building Code Appendix A and Chapter A4.

(Code 1965, § 6-14.06)

(Ord. No. 1555, § 12, 12-10-19; Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), adopted November 12, 2025, amended the title of § 15.24.050 to read as herein set out. The former § 15.24.050 title pertained to general requirements.

15.24.060 - Requirements for placards at unreinforced masonry (URM) structures.

In accordance with California State Law, AB 2553, placards shall be placed at the entry of unreinforced masonry buildings to warn occupants in the event of an earthquake which states:

"Earthquake Warning. This is an unreinforced masonry building. You may not be safe inside or near unreinforced masonry buildings during an earthquake."

(Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), adopted November 12, 2025, renumbered the former § 15.24.100 as § 15.24.060 and amended the title of § 15.24.060 to read as herein set out. The former title pertained to detailed system design requirements.

15.24.070 - Seismic retrofit, board of appeals.

A.

Purpose and Establishment. In order to determine the suitability of alternate materials and methods of construction and to provide interpretations of this chapter, there shall be and is hereby created a board of retrofit appeals.

B.

The board of retrofit appeals shall have that same membership and shall operate under the same procedures as the public works advisory committee set forth in Chapter 2.44 of this Code.

C.

Under no circumstances shall the board grant more than a sixty-day extension of time within which to conform to any requirement of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), adopted November 12, 2025, renumbered the former § 15.24.120 as § 15.24.070.

15.24.80 - Enforcement of this chapter.

A.

Misdemeanor.

1.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter including, but not limited to, willful failure to comply with any specifications or plans submitted with the building permit application, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each and every violation shall be punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment as permitted under state law. The imposition of a penalty for any violation shall not constitute an excuse of that violation, nor shall it constitute a permit for the violation to continue unabated.

2.

Each day of violation shall be a separate offense, and shall constitute a new violation.

3.

The application of these penalties shall not prevent removal of the unlawful structure or condition by the city or its assembly.

B.

Liability.

1.

The building official or his or her designee charged with enforcement of this chapter shall not render himself or herself personally liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act or by reason of any act or omission in the discharge of his or her duties.

2.

This chapter shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility of any person owning, operating or controlling any building or structure for any damages to persons or property caused by such defects.

(Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), 11-12-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1613, § 5 (Exh. A), adopted November 12, 2025, renumbered the former § 15.24.130 as § 15.24.080.

Chapter 15.26 - GRADING