Earthquake-prone building notices

Earthquake-prone building notices

Notices, known as earthquake-prone building notices, are issued by territorial authorities when they determine that a building or part of a building is earthquake prone. These notices inform building users and the public about a building’s (or part of a building’s) potential seismic performance in a moderate earthquake compared to a new building on the same site.

Notices must be displayed prominently on earthquake-prone buildings 

If you own a building that has been issued with an earthquake-prone building notice by your territorial authority, you must: 

• ensure your earthquake-prone building notice is attached in a prominent place on or adjacent to the building 
• inform your territorial authority if the earthquake-prone building notice ceases to be attached or is illegible 
• comply with any instructions from your territorial authority about attaching or removing earthquake-prone building notices

You can be fined for not displaying a notice as required or failing to inform your territorial authority if the notice ceases to be attached or is illegible.

What earthquake-prone building look like

These notices have different borders to indicate the earthquake rating category the building is in. The notices are shown below, with information on the relevant rating category.

0% to less than 20% earthquake rating

Notices with an orange and black striped border are for buildings with an earthquake rating of 0% to less than 20% or where no engineering assessment has been provided and the earthquake rating has not been determined. 

Download the template [DOCX 687 KB] 

20% to less than 34% earthquake rating

Notices with a white and black striped border are for buildings that have an earthquake rating of 20% to less than 34%.

Download the template [DOCX 687 KB]

Section 124 notice before 1 July 2017

Notices with an orange border are for buildings that were given a section 124 notice before 1 July 2017, where the earthquake rating is not known.

Download the template [DOCX 44 KB]

Exemption notice

Building owners may apply to their territorial authority for an exemption from undertaking seismic work on a building determined to be earthquake-prone.

Exemptions recognise that, although a building may be earthquake-prone, the consequences of its failure would be low – there is a low risk to life safety and a low risk of damage to other property. An exemption notice is shown below.

Download the template [DOCX 309 KB]