Gaithersburg, MD: what USGS's seismic model says

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

How Gaithersburg compares

USGS's underlying values for Gaithersburg: 0.07g peak ground acceleration, 0.135g at short period, 0.043g at 1 second. Within Maryland alone, Gaithersburg ranks 12 of 46 cities by seismic hazard - the 76th percentile in-state. Gaithersburg has a population of about 70,686.

Retrofit economics for Gaithersburg

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 Maryland 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 Maryland.

What this means for insurance

A Gaithersburg 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 Gaithersburg's figures come from

Gaithersburg'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 Gaithersburg.