Chapter 19.32 — SEISMIC SAFETY

This chapter establishes seismic safety standards that are designed to protect development proposed for hazardous areas within the dam failure inundation areas, fault precaution zones, and liquefaction susceptibility zones established by the General Plan. (Ord. 01-594 § 2, 2001)

Any new construction within the fault precaution zones, dam failure inundation areas, and liquefaction susceptibility zones, shall comply with the following requirements.

• A. Separation from Active Faults.

  1. No new structure (including foundation systems and basements) designed for human occupancy shall be permitted within 50 feet of an active fault, except that alterations and additions to any structure may be allowed if the alteration or addition does not increase floor area by more than 50 percent of the floor area of the existing structure, or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less. This shall not apply, in Fault Precaution Zone 1, to single-family homes of two stories or less; or to developments consisting of no more than four detached single-family homes of two stories or less; or to developments of up to eight units wherein each unit has living space on the first floor with a minimum of two first-floor exits with direct access to a public right-of-way; or to any property in an R1 or R2 zoning district; and shall not apply to any structure in Fault Precaution Zone 2.

  2. In Fault Precaution Zone 2, no new structure designed for human occupancy shall be permitted unless the requirements of either (a) or (b) below are met:

     • a. A fault rupture investigation conducted in compliance with the State Mining and Geology Board Guidelines determines that the structure (including foundation systems and basements) is not within 50 feet of an active fault. Data for the fault rupture investigation may be collected from on-site and at accessible off-site locations to determine specific fault locations and recency of fault movement. Fault rupture investigations shall be performed by a California Certified Engineering Geologist with experience conducting these types of investigations. The geologist shall submit a work plan for the proposed investigation to the city for review and approval before preceding with the fault rupture investigation. The completed fault rupture investigation report shall be submitted to the city for review and approval.

     • b. Prior to the issuance of building permits, soils and geology studies (although not including a fault rupture investigation) must be submitted for the review and approval of the Building

Official. Design of the building must comply with the West Hollywood Business Code, using Seismic Source Type A.

• B. Liquefaction Susceptibility Zones. Within liquefaction susceptibility zones:

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City of West Hollywood, CA

ZONING ORDINANCE

§ 19.32.020

§ 19.32.030

1. A soils report by a registered civil engineer shall be submitted to the satisfaction of the Building Official before the issuance of building permits, for all new structures, and any alteration or addition that increases floor area by more than 50 percent of the existing floor area or 2,000 square feet, whichever is less, or adds one or more stories to any portion of a structure. This requirement shall not apply to single-family dwellings of no more than two stories which are in projects of no more than four units; and this requirement may be waived by the Building Official on the basis of a previous soils study on nearby property.

   2. The soils report shall include liquefaction potential studies, and where liquefaction potential is identified, mitigating siting and design features shall be required. The review of the report shall include concern for blockage of road access and the interruption of essential utility service as a result of liquefaction in the area.

   3. All appropriate recommendations in the soils report shall be incorporated into the building design.

• C. Emergency Response Plans. All critical, high occupancy, and sensitive facilities shall develop and maintain emergency plans for efficient shut-down of operations and evacuation of the facility in the event of damage to area dams, to the satisfaction of the Public Safety Manager.

• (Ord. 01-594 § 2, 2001; Ord. 02-619 § 1, 2002)

• A. Restricted Areas. New critical facilities shall not be allowed within a dam failure inundation area or fault precaution zone. Limited expansion of critical facilities within a dam failure inundation area shall be allowed. The approval of a proposed expansion shall require that the review authority first find that:

  1. The proposal will ensure the continued functioning of essential facilities following a disaster, prevent loss of life from the failure of critical facilities in an earthquake, and help prevent major problems for post-disaster response (e.g., difficult or hazardous evacuations or rescue, large numbers of injuries, and major clean-up or decontamination of hazardous materials);

  2. Critical facilities shall be protected from damage, loss of function, or inaccessibility in the event of damage directly or indirectly related to local dams or fault rupture;

  3. Effective response shall be provided to a disaster, and serious damage and injuries shall be prevented through effective hazard mitigation; and

  4. The siting of the critical facility observes a 100-foot minimum setback from an identified, active earthquake fault plane. This setback may be increased if, based on the earthquake fault rupture study, a greater setback is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, if deemed necessary by the Community Development Director.

• B. Special Studies. The following studies shall be submitted for review and approval by the Building Official before the issuance of building permits:

  1. A liquefaction potential study in compliance with Section 19.32.020(B), above;

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 19.32.030

WEST HOLLYWOOD CODE

§ 19.32.050

2. Detailed site studies for ground shaking characteristics and fault rupture potential; and

3. Where the studies indicate, compensating siting and design features shall be required.

(Ord. 01-594 § 2, 2001; Ord. 02-619 § 4, 2002; Ord. 19-1058 § 99, 2019; Ord. 24-16, 6/24/ 2024)

• A. Required Findings. New sensitive facilities shall not be allowed within a fault precaution zone unless the review authority first makes all of the following findings.

  1. A fault rupture investigation conducted in compliance with the State Mining and Geology Board Guidelines determines there is no hazard from fault rupture at the site. Data for the fault rupture investigation may be collected from on-site and at accessible off-site locations to determine specific fault locations and recency of fault movement. Fault rupture investigations shall be performed by a California Certified Engineering Geologist with experience conducting these types of investigations. The geologist shall submit a work plan for the proposed investigation to the city for review and approval before preceding with the fault rupture investigation. The completed fault rupture investigation report shall be submitted to the city for review and approval.

  2. The proposed sensitive facility shall be sited outside 100-foot setback planes drawn parallel to any active faults. A greater setback from any active fault may be required if, based on the fault rupture determination study, the Community Development Director determines that the additional setback is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

• B. Special Studies. Before issuance of building permits, the applicant shall submit site-specific engineering geology and geotechnical engineering reports prepared to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

  1. The engineering geology report shall be prepared and signed by a California Certified Engineering Geologist, and the geotechnical engineering report shall be prepared and signed by a California Registered Civil Engineer experienced in the area of geotechnical engineering.

  2. These reports shall include detailed site-specific studies and analyses for all potential geologic and geotechnical hazards (e.g., ground shaking, slope stability, liquefaction).

  3. These reports may be prepared separately or together, but shall incorporate the findings and recommendations of the fault rupture investigation.

4. Where the studies indicate, compensating siting and design features shall be required.

(Ord. 01-594 § 2, 2001; Ord. 19-1058 § 100, 2019; Ord. 24-16, 6/24/2024)

• A. Required Findings. No new high-occupancy structures (including foundation systems and basements) shall be permitted within 50 feet of an active fault. Construction of new high occupancy facilities shall not be allowed within a fault precaution zone unless the review authority first makes all of the following findings:

  1. A fault rupture investigation determines that there is not hazard from fault rupture at

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City of West Hollywood, CA

ZONING ORDINANCE

§ 19.32.050

§ 19.32.050

the subject site. The fault rupture investigation must comply with the following criteria:

  - a. Was conducted in compliance with the State Mining and Geology Board Guidelines; 

  - b. Was performed by a California Certified Engineering Geologist with experience conducting these types of investigations; 

  - c. Was subject to a work plan approved by the city before initiation of the investigation; 

  - d. Utilized data collected from on-site and at accessible off-site locations to determine specific fault locations and recency of fault movement; and 

  - e. Was reviewed and approved by the city. 

2. All proposed high occupancy facilities (including their foundation systems and basements) shall be sited outside 50-foot setback planes drawn parallel to any active faults. A greater setback from any active fault planes may be required if, based on the fault rupture investigation, the Community Development Director determines that the additional setback is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

• B. [Deleted.]

• C. Special Studies. Before issuance of building permits, the applicant shall submit site-specific engineering geology and geotechnical engineering reports prepared to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

  1. The engineering geology report shall be prepared and signed by a California Certified Engineering Geologist, and the geotechnical engineering report shall be prepared and signed by a California Registered Civil Engineer experienced in the area of geotechnical engineering.

  2. These reports shall include detailed site-specific studies and analyses for all potential geologic and/or geotechnical hazards (e.g., ground shaking, slope stability, liquefaction).

  3. These reports may be prepared separately or together, but shall incorporate the findings and recommendations of the fault rupture investigation.

4. Where the studies indicate, compensating siting and design features shall be required. (Ord. 01-594 § 2, 2001; Ord. 04-685 § 4, 2004; Ord. 19-1058 § 101, 2019; Ord. 24-16, 6/24/ 2024)

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City of West Hollywood, CA