PlaceDossier / Questions
How strong could earthquake shaking be at my property?
The National Building Code designs buildings for the shaking expected at each place. A report gives Natural Resources Canada's values for the lot and compares them with four city centres.
The report opens at this answer, with the lot drawn on the map and every other check alongside. A PID (on the tax notice or title) always finds the lot; an address works when it's an exact match.
What the answer means
- What the values are
- Peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration, as a fraction of gravity, that shaking has a 2% chance of exceeding in 50 years: about a 1-in-2,500 chance in any year.
- What the code does with them
- New buildings are designed for this shaking. The code is a minimum standard meant to stop a building collapsing and protect the people inside; it may not prevent serious damage.
- Older houses
- The code applies mainly to new buildings. A house built to an older code may have been designed for less shaking.
- The ground under the lot
- The values are for firm ground. Soft soil, fill or a slope can make shaking stronger; a geotechnical engineer sets the site class.
Liquefaction, earthquake-triggered landslides and tsunami aren't covered. Ask your insurer whether a policy covers earthquake damage. Confirm with the local building official or a geotechnical engineer before you buy or build.
Source: 2020 National Building Code seismic hazard values (CanadaSHM6), Natural Resources Canada (Open Government Licence – Canada); Seismic hazard, Natural Resources Canada (summarised in our words, read 2026-10-01).
Other questions: is my property in the Agricultural Land Reserve · is my property on a floodplain map · has my property burned in a wildfire · is there a mineral or placer claim on my property · does my property have road access · how close to a creek or lake can I build · are there water wells on or near my property · are there species at risk or protected habitat on my property.