Utah building codes have prohibited construction of NEW unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings since the 1970s, but an estimated 140,000+ existing URM structures remain along the Wasatch Front — many in Salt Lake City's historic neighborhoods (Avenues, Sugar House, Liberty Wells, Marmalade) and older portions of Murray, Midvale, and Magna. Neither Salt Lake County nor any of its cities has adopted a MANDATORY URM retrofit ordinance like California cities have for SROs or apartment buildings. The primary regulatory tool is Salt Lake City's voluntary 'Fix the Bricks' grant program, which provides up to 75% FEMA cost-share for life-safety retrofits (roof-to-wall anchors and chimney bracing) on owner-occupied URM houses built before 1975. Risk was confirmed by the March 18, 2020 Magna M5.7 earthquake which damaged multiple URM structures including the Salt Lake Temple's Angel Moroni statue. Geologic-hazard land-use regulation is provided by Salt Lake County Code Chapter 19.75 (Geologic Hazards Ordinance for Natural Hazard Areas).
Under Utah Code §15A-2-103, all NEW construction in Salt Lake County must comply with the 2021 IBC (effective July 1, 2023), which requires reinforced masonry in Seismic Design Categories D0, D1, D2, and E — effectively prohibiting new URM in the Salt Lake Valley (all in SDC D or D2). Existing URM buildings are NOT required to be retrofitted by any city or county ordinance. Salt Lake City established the 'Fix the Bricks' program in 2016 through its Housing Stability Division, funded by FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants. Eligibility: (1) own and live in the home; (2) URM home built BEFORE 1975; (3) property within Salt Lake City boundaries; (4) household meets HUD low-income standards. Program scope is intentionally narrow — life-safety retrofits only, focused on (a) strengthening roof-to-wall connections to prevent walls from peeling away during shaking, and (b) bracing brick chimneys to prevent collapse. Cost: average retrofit is approximately $20,000 per home; federal share is 75%. The program has received over $11 million in cumulative FEMA grants (2016-2025). FEMA awarded $3.7M in 2023 and $3.9M in 2024 for continued work. Demand far exceeds supply: the waitlist is approximately 10 years and applications were closed as of 2024. Technical standard: 'The Utah Guide for the Seismic Improvement of Unreinforced Masonry Dwellings' — approved by the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, ensuring retrofits do not compromise historic character. Salt Lake County Code Chapter 19.75 (Geologic Hazards Ordinance for Natural Hazard Areas) regulates LAND USE in mapped fault, liquefaction, and landslide zones, requiring site-specific geologic hazard studies for new development, but does NOT compel retrofit of existing URM. The 2002 Utah Geological Survey 'Guidelines for Evaluating Surface-Fault-Rupture Hazards in Utah' (UGS Miscellaneous Publication 03-6) is the controlling technical standard, recommending site-specific studies and fault setbacks for all structures designed for human occupancy (IBC Risk Category II and higher) along Holocene faults including the Wasatch.
There is NO penalty for failing to retrofit an existing URM building in Salt Lake County. However, when a URM building is substantially altered (over 50% of replacement value), changed in occupancy, or expanded, the 2021 IEBC triggers structural upgrades — typically requiring reinforced masonry, shotcrete, or steel-frame retrofit of the altered portion. Performing structural masonry work without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor under Utah Code §15A-1-209 (up to $1,000 fine plus double fees). New URM construction (e.g., a brick veneer addition without proper reinforcing and ties) cannot be permitted in any Salt Lake County jurisdiction; non-compliant work is red-tagged and must be demolished. Salt Lake County Code Chapter 19.75 makes it unlawful to construct any 'structure designed for human occupancy' within a designated fault setback or liquefaction zone without an approved site-specific geologic hazard study — civil penalties up to $1,000 per day under Utah Code §17-27a-803.
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