San Leandro, CA Earthquake Safety: Unreinforced Masonry (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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.
8875. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:
(a) "Potentially hazardous building" means any building constructed prior to the adoption of local building codes requiring earthquake resistant design of buildings and constructed of unreinforced masonry wall construction. "Potentially hazardous building" includes all buildings of this type, including, but not limited to, public and private schools, theaters, places of public assembly, apartment buildings, hotels, motels, fire stations, police stations, and buildings housing emergency services, equipment, or supplies, such as government buildings, disaster relief centers, communications facilities, hospitals, blood banks, pharmaceutical supply warehouses, plants, and retail outlets. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include warehouses or similar structures not used for human habitation, except for warehouses or structures housing emergency services equipment or supplies. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include any building having five living units or less. "Potentially hazardous building" does not include, for purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 8877, any building which qualifies as "historical property" as determined by an appropriate governmental agency under Section 37602 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) "Local building department" means a department or agency of a city or county charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of local building codes. (Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 250, Sec. 2.)
Full Breakdown
Under California Government Code 8875-8875.10, the State Seismic Safety Commission requires every city in SDC D or E to identify URM buildings and adopt a mitigation program; San Leandro's compliance is documented in its September 2002 adoption of Chapter 4 of the SSC Guidelines. Most pre-1933 brick commercial buildings along East 14th Street and Davis Street fall under the program. Retrofit standards follow CEBC Appendix Chapter A1: anchoring of parapets, bracing of unreinforced walls, and strengthening of floor-to-wall connections. The recent 2024 soft-story ordinance (SLMC 7-5 Article 16) targets wood-frame buildings; URM mitigation operates under the older 2002 framework. New URM construction is prohibited city-wide under CBC 1.8.3 by reference.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply with a retrofit notice can result in the property being declared a substandard or dangerous building under California Health and Safety Code 17920.3 and SLMC Title 7. The Building Official may post the building, restrict occupancy, or order vacation. Owners may face civil liability if injuries result during an earthquake on a non-compliant URM property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Leandro have a mandatory URM retrofit ordinance?
Can a San Leandro URM building be sold without disclosure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Leandro
California rules heatmap·Compare San Leandro to another location·View the California earthquake safety overview
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