• What can happen if your home is not structurally retrofitted?

There are many points of potential catastrophic seismic weakness in a house, including the foundation, roof, masonry walls, chimneys and walls built around garage doors. If an older building has not been structurally retrofitted, its different parts can move independently of each other during the lateral motion of a major earthquake. If this happens, the house could slide off the foundation or the roof could shift from the top of the structure. In addition, masonry foundation and walls might collapse, resulting in irreparable damage. Unsecured large windows and skylights also pose an obvious danger, as do porches, exterior stairs and balconies.

Generally, retrofitting helps your home’s various parts remain intact and connected to each other during an earthquake so that the entire structure moves as one piece. Of course, new homes are required to have been built according to current code and should not call for structural retrofitting. See our Unreinforced Brick & Masonry article for more information.

• Does the law require that you structurally retrofit your older home?

You are not legally obligated to seismically strengthen your private home. However, when selling a house built before 1960, state law mandates that you provide the buyer with a copy of The Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety, produced by the Seismic Safety Commission of the State of California. You must also fill out a “Residential Earthquake Hazards Disclosure Report” to the best of your knowledge. As the seller, you may evaluate the seismic safety of your home yourself — an official inspection is not mandatory — and you are not obligated to remove siding or cut into walls to make your assessments. Your real estate agent should be familiar with compliance procedures and must provide you with a copy of The Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety.

Although the law does not mandate that you hire an inspector, it is still wise to have a licensed professional — a qualified engineer, architect or contractor — evaluate the condition of your home. Even if you are not putting it on the market, reasonable and effective seismic improvements only make sense. Retrofitting protects both you and your investment; it also makes your home more attractive when you do decide to sell. In addition, California state law waives reappraisal requirements for approved seismic safety improvements, so your property taxes will not be affected.