Kings Point's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Kings Point is Category B. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Rank it against the rest of the country and Kings Point sits at the 64th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

How Kings Point compares

USGS's underlying values for Kings Point: 0.171g peak ground acceleration, 0.28g at short period, 0.059g at 1 second. Within New York alone, Kings Point ranks 46 of 170 cities by seismic hazard - the 73th percentile in-state. Kings Point has a population of about 5,680.

Bracing and bolting: the actual cost

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 New York 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 New York.

Earthquake insurance for a Kings Point home

A Kings Point 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 Kings Point's figures come from

Kings Point'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 Kings Point.