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This Booklet provides information on:
- The most common earthquake-related hazards that can damage homes.
- How to find and then fix the potential structural risks in a home.
- How to find more information on earthquake safety.
- State law requiring this booklet be given to every buyer of homes built before 1960.
 the Residential version...
the SPANISH version...
the COMMERCIAL version...
California State Law requires the seller to:
- Properly strap the water heater, reducing the chance of it falling during an earthquake and
possibly causing gas and water lines to break.
- Provide a copy of this booklet to the buyer if the home was built before 1960 (The
real estate agent is required to give the seller a copy of this booklet).
- Provide to buyers a Natural Hazards Disclosure Statement. The disclosure will tell buyers
whether the home is in an Earthquake Fault Zone or in a Seismic Hazard Zone.
- Provide a Residential Earthquake Risk Disclosure Statement to the buyer.
California State Law does NOT require the seller to:
- Remove siding, drywall, or plaster to complete the disclosure statements.
- Hire someone to evaluate your home or to complete the disclosure statements.
- Fix the risks before you sell your home.
Delivering this guide
Sellers of homes built before 1960, with one to four units of conventional light-frame
construction, must deliver to the buyer, "as soon as practicable before the transfer,"
a copy of The Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety (this booklet) and disclose
certain earthquake deficiencies according to Government Code, Section 8897.1 to
8897.4. The seller's real estate agent must provide the seller with a copy of this
booklet to give to the buyer. This is also specified in Government Code, Section
8897.5.
Excerpted from: The Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety Published by The California
Seismic Safety Commission State of California, SSC No. 20-01
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