Santa Cruz Municipal Code Ch. 18.44 (Earthquake Hazard Reduction) adopts the 1987 Uniform Code for Building Conservation Appendix Chapter A1 for seismic retrofit of unreinforced masonry (URM) bearing wall buildings.
URM buildings receive an Official Notice of Action under §18.44.030 informing record owners that the property must be repaired or retrofitted. Compliance time lines are set by §18.44.050 based on Essential Risk, High-Risk, Medium-Risk, or Low-Risk classification (Table 33A occupant load). Failure to comply under §18.44.070 can result in vacation of the building or other enforcement.
Compliance failure under §18.44.070 triggers escalating enforcement up to building closure.
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See how Santa Cruz's unreinforced masonry rules stack up against other locations.
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