San Diego County Municipal Code Ch. 4 Mitigation Program for Potentially Hazardous Buildings Due to Earthquakes

Government Code sections 8875.1 et seq. provide that each county shall identify buildings within its jurisdiction constructed of unreinforced masonry wall construction before the adoption of local building codes requiring earthquake resistant construction and establish a mitigation program for those buildings. The purpose of this chapter is to implement the State law requirements and to promote the public health and safety by making property owners in the unincorporated area of the County aware of the risks presented by unreinforced masonry buildings on their property. This chapter provides a program to identify and inventory these buildings, notify property owners about the risks presented by their unreinforced buildings and make recommendations to the owners.

(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)

(a) This chapter applies to all buildings in the unincorporated area of the County, other than those listed in subsection (b) below, constructed before October 22, 1946 of unreinforced masonry wall construction, including, but not limited to: public and private schools, theaters, places for public assembly, apartment buildings, hotels, motels, fire stations, police stations and buildings housing emergency services, equipment or supplies, such as government buildings, disaster relief centers, communications facilities, hospitals, blood banks, pharmaceutical supply warehouses, plants and retail outlets.

(b) Subsection (a) above does not apply to (1) a warehouse or other structure not used for human habitation, except a structure housing emergency services equipment or supplies, (2) a building having five living units or less, (3) a building which qualifies as historical property as defined in Health and Safety Code section 37602 or (4) a building owned by the State or federal government.

(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)

The Director of the Department of Planning and Development Services (Director) shall implement this chapter. As used in this chapter, the Director means any person appointed or hired by the Director to implement this chapter.

(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)

The Director shall identify each building that falls within the scope of section 51.402(a) and maintain a list of each identified building until the building is demolished or reinforced to meet current building code standards.

(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)

(a) The Director shall notify each building owner within the scope of section 51.402(a) that the subject building is located in Seismic Design Category D, E or F and was constructed before October 22, 1946 or a building permit was issued for the building before October 22, 1946. The notice shall also advise the building owner that the building is considered to be one of a general type of structure that historically has exhibited little resistance to earthquake motion. The notice shall recommend that the owner undertake structural improvements to the building or consider demolishing the building.

(b) The Director shall send a subsequent notice to the building owner every three years until the owner undertakes structural improvements to the building that bring the building up to current standards for earthquake readiness or until the building is demolished.

(Added by Ord. No. 9974 (N.S.), effective 4-3-09)