Phoenix, AZ: what USGS's seismic model says

USGS's ASCE 7-16 seismic design model - the same standard building codes use - places Phoenix in Seismic Design 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 Phoenix sits at the 52th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

Where Phoenix sits in Arizona

USGS's underlying values for Phoenix: 0.085g peak ground acceleration, 0.193g at short period, 0.067g at 1 second. Within Arizona alone, Phoenix ranks 42 of 57 cities by seismic hazard - the 27th percentile in-state. Phoenix has a population of about 1,673,164.

What a retrofit costs in Phoenix

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 Arizona 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 Arizona.

What this means for insurance

A Phoenix 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 Phoenix's figures come from

Phoenix'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 Phoenix.