San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 19.90 Unreinforced Masonry Buildings

The California Existing Building Code as adopted in 19.01.040 of this code and amended in 19.04.010 of this code shall be the strengthening standards for buildings subject to this chapter.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

Each site shall be assigned to a minimum Seismic Design Category (SDC) D except as provided for in this section. The administrative authority may reassign a site to an alternate seismic zone for either of the following reasons:

(1) Where a building under county jurisdiction is located within an area that has been designated by an incorporated city to be in a SDC other than D.

(2) Where a detailed analysis by a registered engineering geologist or other qualified professional determines that the site or geographic area encompassing the site is in a seismic zone other SDC D.

(3) Where the SDG is determined to be greater per CBC.

The details of the findings used in reassigning a site to an alternate seismic zone shall be recorded and entered into the files of the administrative authority.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)

See CBC. Chapter 1, administrative provisions for definitions and rating classification of buildings. A building may be placed in a higher rating classification if it is determined by the building official to pose a hazard to an adjacent structure or a public way.

(1) Compliance Requirements.

a. The owner of each building within the scope of this chapter shall, upon service of an order and within the time limits set forth in this chapter, cause a structural analysis to be made of the building by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice as such and, if the building does not comply with earthquake standards specified in this section, the owner shall cause it to be structurally altered to conform to such standards or shall cause the building to be demolished.

b. The owner of a building within the scope of this chapter shall comply with the requirements set forth above by submitting to the building official for review within the stated time limits:

1. Within two hundred seventy days after service of the order, a structural analysis, which is subject to approval by the building official, and which shall demonstrate that the building meets the minimum requirements of this chapter; or

2. Within two hundred seventy days after service of the order, the structural analysis and plans for structural alterations of the building to comply with this chapter; or

3. Within one hundred twenty days after service of the order, plans for the installation of wall anchors in accordance with the requirements specified in Section A111(c)2 of the C.B.C.; or

4. Within two hundred seventy days after service of the order, plans for the demolition of the building.

c. After plans are submitted and approved by the building official, the owner shall obtain a building permit and then commence and complete the required construction or demolition within the time limits set forth in Table No. 9B. These time limits shall begin to run from the date the order is served in accordance with Section 19.90.030 (3)b., except that the time limit to commence and complete structural alteration or demolition shall begin to run from the date the building permit is issued.

d. Owners electing to comply with subsection b.3. of this subsection are also required to comply with subsections b.2. or b.4 of this subsection provided, however, that the 270-day period provided for in subsections b.2. or b.4. and the time limits for obtaining a building permit and to complete structural alterations or building demolition set forth in Table No. 9B shall be extended in accordance with Table No. 9A. Each such extended time limit shall begin to run from the date the order is served in accordance with Section 19.90.030(3), except that the time limit to commence structural alterations or demolition shall begin to run from the date the building permit is issued.

(2) Historical Buildings. Alterations or repairs to qualified historical buildings, as defined by Section 18955 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California and as regulated by Sections 18950 to 18961 of that Code, as designated on official national, state, or local registers or inventories shall comply with the State Historical Building Code (California Code of Regulations Title 24, Building Standards, Part 8), in addition to this chapter.

(3) Administration.

a. Order—Service.

1. The building official shall, in accordance with the priorities set forth in Table No. 9A, issue an order as provided in this section to the owner of each building within the scope of this chapter.

2. Prior to the service of an order as set forth in Table No. 9A, a bulletin may be issued to the owner as shown upon last equalized assessment roll or to the person in apparent charge or control of a building considered by the building official to be within the scope of this chapter. The bulletin may contain information the building official deems appropriate. The bulletin may be issued by mail or in person.

b. Order—Priority of Service. Priorities for the service of the order for buildings within the scope of this chapter shall be in accordance with the rating classification as shown on Table No. 9A. Within each separate rating classification, the priority of the order shall normally be based upon the occupant load of the building. The owners of the buildings housing the largest occupant loads shall be served first. The minimum time period prior to the service of the order as shown on Table No. 9A shall be measured from the effective date of this chapter. The building official may, upon receipt of a written request from the owner, order such owner to bring his building into compliance with this chapter prior to the normal service date for such building set forth in this chapter.

c. Order—Contents. 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 roll, 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 19.90.030 (a), which sets forth the owner's alternatives and time limits for compliance.

d. Appeal from Order. The owner of the building may appeal the building official's initial determination that the building is within the scope of this chapter to the building appeals board established by this title. Any such appeal shall be decided by the board no later than ninety days after filing and the grounds thereof shall be stated clearly and concisely.

e. Recordation. The building official shall, within thirty days of the effective date of this chapter, file with the office of the county recorder a certificate stating that the subject building is within the scope of this chapter and is a potentially earthquake hazardous building. The certificate shall also state that the owner thereof has been notified of the requirements contained within this chapter.

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

f. Enforcement. If the owner 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 19.90.030(1), the building official shall verify that the record owner of this building has been properly served. If the order has been served on the record owner, then the building official shall order that the entire building be vacated and that the building remain vacated until such order has been complied with. If compliance with such order has not been accomplished within ninety days after the date the building has been ordered vacated or such additional time as may have been granted by the building appeals board, the building official may order its demolition in accordance with the provisions of Section 116 of the CBC.

TABLE 9A EXTENSIONS OF TIME AND SERVICE PRIORITIES

TABLE 9B TIME LIMITS FOR COMPLIANCE

Notes:

1 Measured from date of building permit issuance.

2 Measured from date of service of order.

(Ord. No. 3343, § 1, 12-6-16; Ord. No. 3400, § 1, 11-19-19)