Earthquake Safety in Bakersfield, CA (2026)
4 verified earthquake safety rules for Bakersfield, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Soft-Story Retrofit
Bakersfield has NO mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinance for multi-family wood-frame buildings. Unlike Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Santa Monica, Burbank, and Pasadena — which have adopted mandatory soft-story programs — Bakersfield has not enacted one. The city's only mandatory seismic retrofit program targets unreinforced masonry bearing-wall buildings under BMC Chapter 15.40.
Bakersfield Soft-Story Retrofit — No Local Mandate
Few RestrictionsFoundation Anchoring
Bakersfield has no local foundation-bolting ordinance distinct from the state building code. Sill-plate anchoring, cripple-wall bracing, and foundation tie-down requirements for new construction and substantial alterations follow the California Residential Code (CRC) as adopted by reference in BMC Title 15. There is no Bakersfield equivalent to Berkeley's or Los Angeles's mandatory retrofit-for-existing-homes program.
Bakersfield Foundation Anchoring — State Building Code
Some RestrictionsUnreinforced Masonry
Bakersfield is one of California's URM-program cities, with mandatory seismic retrofit requirements for unreinforced masonry bearing-wall buildings codified at BMC Chapter 15.40 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing URM Bearing Wall Buildings) and administered under BMC Chapter 15.41. The city completed a full URM inventory and reports roughly 85% of identified URM buildings have been brought up to 1993 retrofit standards.
Bakersfield Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Retrofit Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsSeismic Gas Shutoff
Bakersfield has no local ordinance mandating seismic gas shutoff (earthquake) valves on residential property. The applicable law is California Health and Safety Code 19200-19204, which requires that any seismic gas shutoff device sold in California be certified by the Division of the State Architect (DSA), and the California Plumbing Code, which requires installation when triggering events (e.g., certain remodels or new gas service) occur.
Bakersfield Seismic Gas Shutoff — State Law Applies
Some RestrictionsLooking for Kern County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bakersfield city rules.
Earthquake Safety in Kern County →