Property Near Fault Line in Salt Lake City, Utah

[Sean Tagge]

I own a property zoned RM (residential multifamily) near Highland Drive. It currently has a duplex on it and sits on 1/3 of an acre. There is potential to tear the duplex down and build an 8-plex on it. The only problem is that it is about 100 feet away from a fault line the Highland fault line runs on the edge of the property line. The city planner said there could be potential if we built the parking on top of the fault line and the 8 plex away form the fault line. He said he would not know but I would need to get a geological survey. So I am looking for someone who has gone through a similar process or knows of a geological surveying company that could survey the property with a fault line. 

[Jason Rivera]

I'm a property/casualty insurance agent and many people decide not to buy earthquake insurance because of the premium costs. An 8-plex as you likely know would be a commercial property, and earthquake insurance would be all the more expensive.

That said, my understanding of earthquakes in Utah is that Utah has multiple smaller earthquakes per year which releases pressure from the fault lines. This is why there hasn't been a large catastrophic earthquake in Utah for a long time. In comparison the California fault line does not release as much stress on its fault line with tiny earthquakes, and when enough pressure is built up the fault slips and settles resulting in high magnitude earthquakes. You can research this on your own and if you haven't already this might help (U of U seismograph logs) http://www.seis.utah.edu/recenteqs/.

As for building right next to a fault you'll want a more professional opinion (like you requested in your OP) since there is higher risk of damage from even a lesser shock.

Please note I'm not a seismologist or expert in the field but I am comfortable not purchasing earthquake insurance for my personal home currently in Spanish Fork. You can usually add earthquake coverage later on as well with a 30 day waiting period, and with other rules and limitations (you'll definitely want to check the insurance quote for deductible and if brick/stone or brick/stone veneer are covered as well).