Government Code section 8875.8

(a)

An owner who has received actual or constructive notice that a building located in seismic zone 4 is constructed of unreinforced masonry shall post in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the building, on a sign not less than 5″ × 7″the following statement, printed in not less than 30-point bold type:
“This is an unreinforced masonry building. Unreinforced masonry buildings may be unsafe in the event of a major earthquake.”

(b)

Notwithstanding subdivision (a), unless the owner of a building subject to subdivision (a) is in compliance with that subdivision on and after December 31, 2004, an owner who has received actual or constructive notice that a building located in seismic zone 4 is constructed of unreinforced masonry and has not been retrofitted in accordance with an adopted hazardous building ordinance or mitigation program shall post in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the building, on a sign not less than 8″× 10″ the following statement, with the first two words printed in 50-point bold type and the remaining words in at least 30-point type:
“Earthquake Warning. This is an unreinforced masonry building. You may not be safe inside or near unreinforced masonry buildings during an earthquake.”

(c)

Notice of the obligation to post a sign, as required by subdivisions (a) and (b), shall be included in the Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety.

(d)

Every rental or lease agreement entered into after January 1, 2005, involving a building subject to the requirements of subdivision (b) shall contain the following statement: This building, which you are renting or leasing, is an unreinforced masonry building. Unreinforced masonry buildings have proven to be unsafe in the event of an earthquake. Owners of unreinforced masonry buildings are required to post in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the building, the following statement:
“Earthquake Warning. This is an unreinforced masonry building. You may not be safe inside or near an unreinforced masonry building during an earthquake.”

(e)

An owner who is subject to subdivision (b) and who does not comply with subdivision (a) may be subject to an administrative fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to be levied by the local building department no sooner than 15 days after the local building department notifies the owner that the owner is subject to the administrative fine. If the owner does not comply with the requirements of that subdivision within 30 days of the first administrative fine, the owner may be subject to an additional administrative fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(f)

If an owner who is subject to subdivision (b) does not comply with subdivision (b), any person may bring a civil action for injunctive relief if all of the following have been met:

(1)

He or she has made a request to an appropriate authority for administrative enforcement of this section at least 90 days prior to the action.

(2)

An administrative fine has not been levied since the request was made pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3)

At least 15 days prior to the filing of the action, the person has served on each proposed defendant a notice containing the following statement:
“You are receiving this notice because you are alleged to be in violation of Section 8875.8 of the Government Code, which requires that the owner of an unreinforced masonry building post a sign, not less than 8″× 10″, in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the building with the following statement, with the first two words printed in 50-point boldface type and the remaining words in at least 30-point type:
‛Earthquake Warning. This is an unreinforced masonry building. You may not be safe inside or near unreinforced masonry buildings during an earthquake.
Failure to post the sign in compliance with subdivision (b) of Section 8875.8 within 15 days of receipt of this notice entitles the sender of the notice to file an action against you in a court of law for injunctive relief.’”

(4)

The owner has failed to post the sign in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (b) within 15 days of receipt of the notice served pursuant to this subdivision.

(g)

The prohibitions and sanctions imposed pursuant to this section are in addition to any other prohibitions and sanctions imposed by law. A civil action for injunctive relief pursuant to this section shall be independent of any other rights and remedies.

Source: Section 8875.8, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=8875.­8.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 8875.8’s source at ca​.gov