Fairborn, OH: what USGS's seismic model says

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Fairborn is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Fairborn in the 49th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 49% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

Fairborn by the numbers

USGS's underlying values for Fairborn: 0.076g peak ground acceleration, 0.144g at short period, 0.069g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Fairborn ranks 60 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 77th percentile in-state. Fairborn has a population of about 35,105.

What a retrofit costs in Fairborn

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 Ohio 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 Ohio.

What this means for insurance

A Fairborn 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 Fairborn's figures come from

Fairborn'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 Fairborn.