Unincorporated Orange County does not have a mandatory unreinforced masonry (URM) retrofit ordinance. California SB 547 required inventories of URM buildings but did not mandate retrofits. Few URM buildings exist in unincorporated OC areas due to newer construction patterns.
Unincorporated Orange County has not adopted a mandatory unreinforced masonry (URM) retrofit ordinance. California SB 547 (1986) required local jurisdictions to inventory URM buildings and establish risk reduction programs, but did not mandate retrofits. Orange County's development history means relatively few URM buildings exist in unincorporated areas compared to older urban centers like Los Angeles or San Francisco. Most unincorporated OC development occurred after modern seismic building codes were adopted. Any URM buildings that do exist are primarily in older commercial areas. Voluntary retrofit is encouraged and requires building permits. The California Existing Building Code Appendix Chapter A1 provides URM retrofit standards. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs may fund voluntary seismic improvements to URM structures.
No mandatory URM retrofit requirement in unincorporated OC. Building permits required for any structural retrofit work. Voluntary retrofits must comply with California Existing Building Code standards.
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See how Orange County's unreinforced masonry rules stack up against other locations.
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