Aurora, CO: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Aurora is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Aurora ranks above 56% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 56th percentile.

How Aurora compares

USGS's underlying values for Aurora: 0.1g peak ground acceleration, 0.188g at short period, 0.054g at 1 second. Within Colorado alone, Aurora ranks 53 of 79 cities by seismic hazard - the 33th percentile in-state. Aurora has a population of about 403,130.

What a retrofit costs in Aurora

A full earthquake retrofit typically runs $5,000-$10,000 nationally (around $7,000 typical), driven mainly by house size and foundation type, not by Colorado specifically. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, which covers a large share of this cost, is a California-only program and does not apply in Colorado.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Aurora homeowner cannot buy a standalone earthquake policy in most cases - it is added to an existing homeowners policy as an endorsement, so the place to start is a regular home-insurance quote.

Where Aurora's figures come from

Aurora's Category B and every number above trace to USGS's own ASCE 7-16 Design Maps service - see the methodology guide. See the category explainer for what Category B does and doesn't tell you about Aurora.