Bishop Municipal Code Ch. 15.30 Earthquake Hazard Reduction

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 unreinforced masonry bearing wall buildings constructed prior to March 11, 1940.

B. The provisions of this chapter are intended as minimum standards for structural seismic resistance established primarily to reduce the risk of life loss or injury. Compliance with these standards will not necessarily prevent loss of life or injury or prevent earthquake damage to rehabilitated buildings. This chapter does not require alteration of existing electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire safety systems unless they constitute a hazard to life or property.

C. Qualified historical buildings shall comply with the state historical building code (SHBC) established under 24 CCR part 8.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.010; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)

A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all buildings constructed or under construction prior to March 11, 1940, or for which a building permit was issued prior to March 11, 1940, which on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter have unreinforced masonry bearing walls as defined in this chapter.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this division shall not apply to detached one-family or two-family dwellings and detached apartment houses containing less than five dwelling units and used solely for residential purposes.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.020; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)

For purposes of this chapter, the applicable definitions in sections 2302 and 2312 of the Uniform Building Code shall apply:

A. Essential building means any building housing a hospital or other medical facility having surgery or emergency treatment areas; fire or police stations; municipal government disaster operation and communication centers.

B. High risk building.

1. The term "high risk building" means any building, not classified an essential building, having an occupant load of 100 or more, as determined by section 3302(a) of the Uniform Building Code.

2. Exception: A high risk building shall not include the following:

a. Any building having exterior walls braced with masonry crosswalls or wood frame crosswalls spaced less than 40 feet apart in each story. Crosswalls shall be full story height with a minimum length of one and one-half times the story height.

b. Any building used for its intended purpose, as determined by the building official, for less than 20 hours per week.

C. Low risk building means any building, not classified as an essential building, having an occupant load of less than 20 occupants as determined by section 3302(a) of the Uniform Building Code.

D. Medium risk building means any building, not classified as a high risk building or an essential building, having an occupant load of 20 occupants or more as determined by section 3302(a) of the Uniform Building Code.

E. Unreinforced masonry bearing wall means a masonry wall having all of the following characteristics:

1. Provides the vertical support for a floor or roof;

2. The total superimposed load is over 100 pounds per linear foot;

3. The area of reinforcing steel is less than 50 percent of that required by section 2407(h) of the Uniform Building Code.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.030; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)

A. The rating classifications shown in section 15.30.030 are established and each building within the scope of this chapter shall be placed in one rating classification by the building official. The total occupant load of the entire building as determined by Uniform Building Code § 3302(a) shall be used to determine the rating classification.

B. For the purpose of this chapter, portions of buildings constructed to act independently when resisting seismic forces may be placed in separate rating classifications.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.040; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)

A. The owner of each building within the scope of this chapter shall cause a structural analysis of the building to be made by a civil or structural engineer or architect licensed by the state of state. If the building does not meet the minimum earthquake standards specified in this chapter, the owner shall either cause it to be structurally altered to conform to such standards or in the alternative, the owner shall notify the city to prepare and post signs, in accordance with the standards specified in exhibit A set out in this section and the city shall cause such signs to be posted in conspicuous places at the entrances and inside the building.

B. The owner of a building subject to this chapter shall submit a structural analysis of the building to the city for approval within 60 days after being served with an order issued under this chapter. The structural analysis shall certify whether or not the building meets the minimum requirements of this chapter.

C. If the structural analysis certifies that the building does not meet the minimum requirements of this chapter, then the owner of the building shall do either of the following within 120 days of being served with an order issued under this chapter:

1. Submit plans for proposed structural alterations to the building which are necessary to bring the building into compliance with the minimum requirements of this chapter.

2. Notify the city that the owner elects to have the city prepare and post signs in accordance with Exhibit A set out in this section.

D. If the owner elects to proceed under subsection A of this section, the owner shall obtain plan approval and a building permit from the city and commence and complete the required structural alterations within one year of being originally served with an order issued under this chapter.

EXHIBIT A

CAUTION (a)

SEISMIC (b)

HAZARD (c)

(c) This building does not meet minimum earthquake standards per City of Bishop Ordinance 457 and may be hazardous because of earthquake/seismic forces.

Note:

Sign size: Minimum 14 inch by 20 inch

Letter size: (a) 2¼ and prime (b) 1¼ (c) ½ inch

Colors: Black letters on safety yellow background for (b) and (c). Safety yellow letters on black background for (a).

Materials: The sign shall be constructed on 22 GA metal.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.050; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)

A. Service of order. The building official shall issue an order, as provided in subsection B of this section, to the owner of each building within 30 days from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

B. Contents of order. The order shall be in writing and shall be served either personally or by certified or registered mail upon the owner as shown on the last equalized assessment, and upon the person, if any, in apparent charge or control of the building. The order shall specify that the building has been determined by the building official to be within the scope of this chapter and, therefore, is required to meet the minimum seismic standards of this chapter. The order shall specify the rating classification of the building and shall be accompanied by a copy of section 15.30.050 which sets forth the owner's alternatives and time limits for compliance.

C. Appeal from order.

1. The owner or person in charge or control of the building may appeal to the city council the building official's initial determination that the building is within the scope of this chapter. Such appeal shall be filed with the city administrator within 30 days from the service date of the order described in subsection B of this section. Any such appeal shall be decided by the city council no later than 60 days after the date that the appeal is filed. Such appeal shall be made in writing and the grounds thereof shall be stated clearly and concisely. Each appeal shall be accompanied by a filing fee of $75.00.

2. Appeals from any other determinations, orders or actions by the building official pursuant to this chapter, shall be made in accordance with the normal appeal procedures established in this Code.

D. Recordation.

1. At the time that the aforementioned order is served, the building official shall file with the office of the county recorder a certificate stating that the subject building is within the scope of this chapter. The certification shall also state that the owner thereof has been ordered to structurally analyze the building and to structurally alter or sign it where it is not found to comply with this chapter.

2. If the building is thereafter found not to be within the scope of this chapter, or as a result of structural alterations or an analysis is found to be structurally capable of resisting minimum seismic forces, or is demolished, the building official shall file with the office of the county recorder a certificate terminating the status of the subject building as being classified within the scope of this chapter.

E. Enforcement. If the owner or other person in charge or control of the subject building fails to comply with any order issued by the building official pursuant to this chapter within any of the time limits set forth in section 15.30.050, the building official shall order the entire building vacated and remain vacated until such order has been complied with. If compliance with such order has not been accomplished within 90 days after the date the building has been ordered vacated, or by such additional. time as may have been granted by the city council, not to exceed one year, the building official may order the required work to be done at the expense of the property owner and shall place a lien on the property for the actual cost of the work plus a ten percent administration fee.

(Code 1985, § 15.30.060; Ord. No. 457, § 1(part), 1989)