Earthquake-prone Buildings
From 1 July 2017 the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 came into force.
The Act introduced a nationally consistent system for managing earthquake-prone buildings, changing the way these buildings are identified, assessed and managed.
Under this system, territorial authorities (councils) are responsible for identifying potentially earthquake-prone buildings and notifying building owners. Councils also determine whether a building is earthquake-prone and, if so, assign an earthquake rating based on an engineering assessment and issue an EPB notice to the building owner.
The system for managing earthquake-prone buildings aims to strike a balance between protecting people from harm in an earthquake, managing the costs of strengthening or removing buildings, and considering the impact on heritage.
Key features of the Act include:
- Clarifying the definition of an earthquake-prone building
- Establishing a national register of earthquake-prone buildings
- Categorising New Zealand into three areas of high, medium and low seismic risk
- Defining a category of 'priority buildings' in high and medium seismic risk areas, with shorter identification and remediation timeframes
- Providing for an opt-in extension of time to remediate our most important heritage buildings
- Providing for an opt-in exemption from the requirement to remediate for some buildings
How the process works
Council identifies buildings or parts of buildings that may be potentially earthquake-prone and notifies the building owner.
The building owner is generally required to obtain an engineering assessment from a suitably qualified engineer and provide it to Council within 12 months of being notified. In certain circumstances, the building owner can apply for one extension of up to 12 months. Council considers the engineering assessment and determines whether the building or part of the building is earthquake-prone.
If it is determined to be earthquake-prone, Council assigns an earthquake rating and issues an EPB notice. Building owners must display the notice and complete the required seismic work within the applicable timeframe.
Changes to earthquake-prone building deadlines
In November 2024, legislation extended remediation deadlines for many earthquake-prone buildings by four years. The extension applies to EPB notices with deadlines on or after 2 April 2024. Notices that expired on or before 1 April 2024 are not covered by the extension.
The Government has also announced proposed reforms to the earthquake-prone building system. Building owners should continue to meet the requirements of the current system and the deadline shown on their current EPB notice.
What is an earthquake-prone building?
A building, or part of a building, is earthquake prone if it will have its ultimate capacity exceeded in a moderate earthquake, and if it were to collapse, would do so in a way that is likely to cause injury or death to persons in or near the building or on any other property, or damage to any other property.
An engineering assessment is used as part of determining whether a building or part of a building is earthquake-prone. A building's earthquake rating is expressed as a percentage of the New Building Standard (%NBS). More information about earthquake ratings and assessments is available from MBIE.
Earthquake-prone building register
Councils provide MBIE with information about buildings they have determined to be earthquake-prone. This information is published on the national Earthquake-prone Building Register (EPB Register), which is publicly accessible online.
Seismic risk area
Rangitīkei District is within a high seismic risk area. The seismic risk area determines the timeframes that apply for identifying and remediating earthquake-prone buildings.
Priority buildings
Priority buildings are certain buildings in high and medium seismic risk areas that are considered to present a higher risk because of their construction, type, use or location. This can include buildings that pose a higher risk to life safety or buildings that are critical to recovery following an emergency.
Priority buildings must be identified and remediated within half the time allowed for other earthquake-prone buildings in the same seismic risk area.
MBIE provides guidance for councils and building owners on priority buildings.
Earthquake-prone building resources
MBIE provides guidance and resources for building owners, territorial authorities, engineers and other building professionals on identifying, assessing and managing earthquake-prone buildings.
MBIE's Earthquake-prone building resources include links to the relevant legislation, regulations, engineering assessment guidance and EPB methodology.
The EPB methodology and the Seismic Assessment of Existing Buildings: Technical Guidelines for Engineering Assessments are key tools used by councils and engineers to identify, assess and make decisions on potentially earthquake-prone buildings.
Other things you may need to know about earthquake-prone buildings
If Council identifies a building or part of a building as potentially earthquake-prone, the building owner will be notified and generally asked to provide an engineering assessment.
The engineering assessment must meet the requirements of the earthquake-prone building (EPB) methodology and is used by Council to determine whether the building or part of the building is earthquake-prone.
If Council determines that the building is earthquake-prone, it will assign an earthquake rating and issue an EPB notice. The notice must be displayed on the building and will include the deadline for completing the required seismic work.
Building owners generally have 12 months from the date Council requests an engineering assessment to provide one.
If you are unable to provide the assessment within this timeframe, you may be able to apply for one extension of up to 12 months. An application for an extension must be made before the applicable deadline.
Contact Council's Building Services team as early as possible if you think you will be unable to provide your assessment by the due date.
Yes. If you already have an engineering assessment for your building, provide it to Council for consideration.
Whether an existing or previous assessment can be used to determine whether a building is earthquake-prone depends on whether it meets the requirements of the EPB methodology.
Council may need further information or an updated assessment before making a determination.
An earthquake rating is commonly expressed as a percentage of the New Building Standard (%NBS).
%NBS provides an indication of how a building is expected to perform in an earthquake compared with the minimum life-safety standard required for a similar new building.
An engineering assessment is used as part of determining whether a building or part of a building is earthquake-prone.
For advice about the seismic performance of a particular building, you should speak to a suitably qualified engineer.
The timeframe depends on factors including the seismic risk area and whether the building is classified as a priority building.
Rangitīkei District is within a high seismic risk area.
In 2024, remediation deadlines for many earthquake-prone buildings were extended by four years. The extension applies to EPB notices with deadlines on or after 2 April 2024. Notices that expired on or before 1 April 2024 are not covered by the extension.
Building owners should refer to the current deadline shown on their EPB notice and contact Council if they are unsure which deadline applies.
Priority buildings are certain buildings in high and medium seismic risk areas that are considered to present a higher risk because of their construction, type, use or location.
Under the current earthquake-prone building system, shorter identification and remediation timeframes apply to priority buildings.
If your building is classified as a priority building, this will be identified through the earthquake-prone building process.
The earthquake-prone building system primarily applies to non-residential buildings and some larger residential buildings.
Residential buildings are generally outside the scope of the system unless they are at least two storeys and contain three or more household units, or are used as certain types of specialised accommodation, such as a hostel or boarding house.
Contact Council if you are unsure whether your building is covered by the earthquake-prone building system.
There are specific Building Act requirements that can apply when alterations are proposed to an earthquake-prone building.
The requirements depend on the building and the extent and nature of the proposed work. You should contact Council's Building Services team before planning significant alterations to an earthquake-prone building.
Depending on the proposed work, you may also need advice from a suitably qualified engineer or other building professional.
Some earthquake-prone heritage buildings may be eligible for an extension of time to complete seismic work.
Eligibility requirements apply, so building owners should contact Council or refer to MBIE's earthquake-prone building guidance if they are considering applying for an extension.
Building owners are responsible for completing the required seismic work within the timeframe shown on their EPB notice.
Failure to comply with the requirements of an EPB notice can result in enforcement action under the Building Act 2004.
Contact Council as early as possible if you have questions about the deadline that applies to your building.
Proposed changes include focusing requirements more closely on higher-risk buildings and areas, introducing different risk mitigation requirements based on building type and location, allowing some building owners to apply for deadline extensions, and changing some requirements associated with seismic strengthening work.
These proposed reforms are not yet in force. Building owners must continue to comply with the current earthquake-prone building system and the requirements of their EPB notice unless advised otherwise.
For the latest information, visit MBIE's Proposed changes to the Earthquake-prone Building (EPB) system page.