Fremont's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Fremont is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. That puts Fremont in the 45th percentile nationally for seismic hazard - higher than 45% of the 4,875 US cities USGS was checked against here.

How Fremont compares

USGS's underlying values for Fremont: 0.07g peak ground acceleration, 0.134g at short period, 0.054g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Fremont ranks 125 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 51th percentile in-state. Fremont has a population of about 15,814.

What a retrofit costs in Fremont

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 Fremont 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 Fremont's figures come from

Fremont'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 Fremont.