El Segundo Municipal Code Ch. 16 Postdisaster Assessment Standards

Pursuant to California Government Code sections 50022.1 to 50022.8, the procedures for postearthquake safety evaluation of buildings (ATC-20) including appendices A through F, and addendum (ATC-20-2) including appendices A and B, published by the Applied Technology Council, is adopted by reference, subject to the amendments, additions and deletions set forth below. One true copy of ATC-20 and ATC-20-2, are on file in the office of the building official and is available for public inspection as required by law. (Ord. 1536, 12-6-2016)

Chapter 1 Post Disaster Safety Assessment Placards

Section 1-1 Intent:

This chapter establishes standard placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy after any disaster. The chapter further authorizes the building safety division, as well as authorized representatives of the division, to post the appropriate placard at each entry point of a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

Section 1-2 Application Of Provisions:

The provisions of this article are applicable following each disaster for which a state of emergency has been declared by the city council, state, or federal government, to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the city.

Section 1-3 Definition:

Safety Assessment: Means a visual, nondestructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining whether continued occupancy should be permitted following a disaster.

Section 1-4 Placards:

A. The following are descriptions of the official jurisdiction placards to be used to designate whether buildings or structures may be occupied after a disaster. The format of the placard is provided in the "Post Disaster Safety Assessment Plan" published by the California governor's office of emergency services.

1. Green "Inspected - Lawful Occupancy Permitted" is to be posted on any building or structure where no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.

2. Yellow "Limited Entry" is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged where the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual who posts this placard shall note in general terms the type of damage encountered.

3. Red “Unsafe - Do Not Enter Or Occupy” is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life or safety. Buildings or structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstances except as authorized in writing by the building safety department. El Segundo city approved safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard shall note in general terms the type of damage encountered.

B. The name of the department, its address and phone number shall be permanently affixed to each placard.

C. Once it has been attached to a building or structure, a placard shall not be removed, altered or covered until done so by an authorized representative of the city of El Segundo building safety division.

Chapter 2 Post-Disaster Demolition

Section 2-1 Intent:

This chapter establishes demolition criteria for all buildings and structures damaged as a result of a disaster for which a local emergency has been declared by the city council, state, or federal government, to the degree where demolition is a viable alternative to repair.

Section 2-2 Application Of Provisions:

The provisions of this article are applicable following each disaster for which a local emergency has been declared by the city council, state, or federal government, to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the city.

Section 2-3 Definitions:

Condemn And Condemned: Shall also mean no person shall enter the building or structure for any reason without the express written permission of the director of community development or his designee.

Event: Any occurrence, which results in the declaration of an emergency, and shall include but not limited to, fires, wind storms, earthquakes and floods.

Section 2-4 Demolition Criteria:

A. If after the event, and during any state of emergency, the director of community development determines that any building or structure poses an imminent threat to public health and safety and that protection of the public health and safety requires immediate demolition of the building or structure, or a portion of a building or structure, the director or his designee shall, without contacting the owner or providing a hearing to the property owner, order that said building or structure be demolished immediately. Upon the order of the director or designee, the city shall immediately demolish said building or structure. Such demolition shall be performed in the interest of public health and safety without condemnation hearings otherwise required by the El Segundo municipal code.

B. If after the event, the director of community development determines that any building or structure poses a hazard, but not an imminent threat to the public health and safety, the director or his designee shall notify the building owner of such determination, and the reasons thereof by certified mail return receipt deposited in the United States mail no later than five days after the determination is made. The notice shall set forth the date, time, and place of a hearing which the director or his designee shall conduct, and also state that during the hearing the building owner may present any evidence to explain why the building or structure should not be condemned. The decision of the director or his designee to condemn the building or structure unless all required repairs are made shall be final. In making the final decision, the director or his designee shall consider: 1) all evidence presented at the hearing by the owner or his or her representative; 2) the nature of the hazard presented by the building or structure; and 3) the likelihood of personal injury or death occurring if the building or structure is not condemned.

C. For any building or structure which the owner has decided to demolish rather than repair, the owner, or owner’s representative, shall follow the established procedures for securing a demolition permit. (Ord. 1536, 12-6-2016; amd. Ord. 1620, 11-17-2020; Ord. 1639, 9-20-2022)