Santa Cruz Municipal Code §18.44.020 adopts the 1970 Uniform Building Code §2314 by reference for seismic standards. Modern construction follows the California Building Code (adopted under §18.04).
California has experienced multiple destructive earthquakes near Santa Cruz (1989 Loma Prieta epicenter at ~10 mi from Santa Cruz, magnitude 6.9). Sill-plate bolting, cripple-wall bracing, and foundation anchoring are recommended for pre-1980 wood-frame homes through state-funded Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program. Soft-story retrofit is encouraged citywide. Public-info on EBB available through California Earthquake Authority.
Voluntary retrofit programs available. Building-code violations for new construction face standard enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Cruz, CA
No Santa Cruz-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise in flight; such regulation is federally preempted by the FAA, and California PUC 21669 set...
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz prohibits barbed-wire fences, electrified or not, without a conditional fence permit, and bars any fence that creates a fire or traffic hazard. Ca...
Santa Cruz, CA
California restricts exotic pets through the Fish & Game Code and CDFW regulations — ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal statewide, and many wild/exotic specie...
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz zoning code (SCMC 24.12.620) allows a maximum of six domestic animals on any residential lot, of which no more than three may be dogs and no more ...
Santa Cruz, CA
The City of Santa Cruz allows backyard recreational and warming fires daily unless wildfire danger is high. The fire must be no more than 3 feet in diameter ...
Santa Cruz, CA
The City of Santa Cruz has a Heritage Tree ordinance requiring a permit to remove heritage or significant trees, even on private property, with replacement r...
See how Santa Cruz's foundation anchoring rules stack up against other locations.
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