Unreinforced Masonry: Berkeley vs San Leandro
How do unreinforced masonry rules compare between Berkeley, CA and San Leandro, CA?
San Leandro has fewer restrictions than Berkeley.
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
BMC Chapter 19.38 establishes a mandatory seismic hazard mitigation program for unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings — those built before 1956 with masonry bearing walls lacking modern seismic reinforcement. Berkeley adopts Appendix Chapter 1 of the 1997 Uniform Code for Building Conservation (UCBC) as the retrofit engineering standard.
View full Berkeley rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
California's URM Law (Government Code 8875 et seq.) required San Leandro and all SDC D/E jurisdictions to inventory unreinforced masonry buildings and adopt a mitigation program. San Leandro adopted Chapter 4 of the State's Guidelines for Seismic Retrofit of Existing Buildings in September 2002, applying retrofit triggers to identified URM structures.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | BMC Ch. 19.38 | - |
| Covered Buildings | Pre-1956 URM, commercial/mixed-use or 5+ units | - |
| Engineering Standard | 1997 UCBC Appendix Ch. 1 (BMC 19.38.130) | - |
| Tenant Notice | Required (BMC 19.38.070) | - |
| Vacancy Trigger | Immediate retrofit after 6+ months vacant | - |
| Max Penalty | Up to $5,000/day; $10,000 if injury | - |
| State Law | - | Cal. Gov Code 8875-8875.10 (URM Law) |
| Local Adoption | - | Sept. 2002, SSC Guidelines Chapter 4 |
| Retrofit Standard | - | CEBC Appendix Chapter A1 |
| Target Areas | - | Pre-1933 brick on E. 14th St., Davis St. |
| New URM Construction | - | Prohibited |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
What is a URM building under Berkeley law?
BMC 19.38.020 defines a potentially hazardous URM as a pre-1956 building with masonry bearing walls lacking seismic reinforcement, used commercially or containing 5+ dwelling units; or one with brick infill, veneers, or unreinforced parapets in high-pedestrian corridors.
Which engineering standard applies to URM retrofits?
Berkeley adopts Appendix Chapter 1 of the 1997 Uniform Code for Building Conservation (UCBC) as amended in BMC 19.38.130. Designs are submitted to Berkeley Building & Safety.
Do tenants get any rights under the URM program?
Yes — BMC 19.38.070 requires owners to give tenants written notice of the building's URM classification and to comply with city rules on temporary relocation and rent during retrofit construction.
San Leandro FAQ
Does San Leandro have a mandatory URM retrofit ordinance?
California's URM Law (Gov Code 8875) required San Leandro to inventory unreinforced masonry buildings and adopt a mitigation program; the City did so in September 2002 by adopting Chapter 4 of the State Seismic Safety Commission Guidelines. Owners of identified URMs must comply with the City's mitigation program.
Can a San Leandro URM building be sold without disclosure?
No. California Civil Code 1102 and the URM Law require sellers to disclose URM classification, hazard notice, and retrofit history at the time of sale. The Building & Safety Division maintains the official inventory.
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