March 22, 2010

California Earthquake Zones

It is a common misconception that all of California is in an earthquake zone. A fault zone is a fracture in the crust of the earth along which rocks on one side have moved relative to the rocks on the other side. Faults are often the result of repeated displacement of these rocks over time. A fault trace is a line on the surface defining the fault area. An active fault is one that has ruptured within the last 11,000 years – yes, 11,000 years!

These fault zones and trace lines have been mapped by the State Geologist and are called “Special Studies Zones”. When purchasing a home in California, the seller and their agent are required to provide prospective purchasers with information as to whether the property is located in an Earthquake Fault Zone or not. Several other state mandated disclosures are also provided to a buyer as mandated by state law.

The maps the State Geologist develops establish regulatory zones around surface traces of active faults. These maps are used by local agencies in the planning and controlling of new or renewed construction by placing restrictions on what can be developed and how. A structure for human occupancy cannot be placed over the trace line of a fault and must be set back a minimum of 50 feet.

Whether your property is a “Special Studies Zone” or not, when a BIG one hits you will feel it. I know with Loma Prieta in 1989, major damage was done throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and I could feel both the initial quake and the aftershocks even though I was located miles away from the epicenter and had no damage to my property.

For more information, go to http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/rghm/ap/Pages/Index.aspx.

If you are thinking of purchasing a home in California, give me a call at 925-287-0550 or email me at kmardiros@legacyrealestateassociates.com and I will refer you to one of our sales associates if you are looking in the East Bay Area or to a broker member of our referral network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros