Rittman's Seismic Design Category, explained

Under the seismic model IBC and ASCE 7 use for new construction, Rittman 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 Rittman sits at the 37th percentile for seismic hazard among 4,875 US cities.

How Rittman compares

USGS's underlying values for Rittman: 0.06g peak ground acceleration, 0.116g at short period, 0.05g at 1 second. Within Ohio alone, Rittman ranks 200 of 254 cities by seismic hazard - the 21th percentile in-state. Rittman has a population of about 6,119.

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 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.

Insuring against this, not just retrofitting

A Rittman 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 Rittman's figures come from

Rittman'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 Rittman.