A building is considered earthquake-prone if an engineering analysis shows it is 33 per cent or less of the New Building Standard. In essence, this means the building has a seismic capacity less than one third of the level required for a new building.

Under new national legislation that came into effect on 1 July 2017, building owners across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula have between seven and a half and 15 years to strengthen or demolish their earthquake-prone buildings, depending on a range of factors. This list of owners includes Christchurch City Council, and due to the type and usage of our buildings, we have 15 years.

The buildings remain fit to occupy, according to advice from independent chartered professional engineers. 

The Council has already been proactively repairing many of these buildings and has ongoing programmes in place for this work to continue. A number of the earthquake-prone buildings identified are currently being repaired and strengthened, or are included in future work programmes.

Find out more about general rules around earthquake-prone buildings and how the Council can help you if you're the owner of one.

The Council owns 43 earthquake-prone buildings across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Of these, 28 are open for use, including 19 small, simple structures such as toilet blocks, pavilions and sheds that are used infrequently. There are also three community halls, with the remaining six buildings fulfilling a range of uses.

All the affected Council buildings have already been assessed by chartered professional engineers as part of the Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) process carried out on all Council buildings after the 2010–2011 earthquakes.

Council ward Address Building name Current status Asset owner Due date for completion of work Work status/intentions
Banks Peninsula 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road Little River Coronation Library, Awa-Iti Domain Closed Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage 28.01.35 In Progress. To tender in 2021.
Banks Peninsula 584 Little Akaloa Road, Little Akaloa Clubrooms Open Parks Unit, Local Parks 19.02.33 LTP planning
Banks Peninsula 183 Purau Avenue, Purau Toilet, Purau Bay Open Parks Unit, Local Parks 22.02.33 Review of best future location in-progress (including sea level rise and flood risk).
Banks Peninsula 40 Wharf Rd, Pigeon Bay Pigeon Bay Hall Open Community Facilities 01.02.33 Strengthening project underway but put on-hold in 2020 due to funding pressure.
Cashmere 66 Colombo Street South Library Open (with temporary strengthening) Libraries Information Unit 14.08.34 Repair and strengthening project planning underway. Funding and timing of subsequent stages still to be confirmed.
Cashmere 59 Studholme Street Amenity Block, Somerfield Park Open Parks Unit, Sports Parks 08.02.33 LTP planning
Cashmere 63P Waimea Terrace Beckenham Bowling Club Open Building not owned by Council but on Council land 23.01.33 Building not owned by Council.
Central 230 Cambridge Terrace Edmonds Band Rotunda Closed Heritage Properties 30.01.33 Strengthening/repair project due for completion in April 2021.
Central 280 Durham Street Canterbury Provincial Chambers Closed Heritage Properties 12.08.25 No funding in current LTP for repair strategy. Future users and potential funders being actively explored in 2021.
Central 159 Oxford Terrace Our City O-Tautahi Old Municipal Chambers Closed Heritage Properties 10.04.25 JV with Box 112 will ensure deadline is met.
Central 7 Riccarton Avenue Townend House, Botanic Gardens Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report Parks Unit,Botanic Gardens 19.08.25 Project to review options to commence in 2021 – including possible future replacement. Funding available in LTP.
Central 9 Rolleston Avenue Robert McDougall Art Gallery Closed Heritage Properties 19.08.25 Council has made safe and weather tight. Likely to be included with overall Canterbury Museum base isolation approach with some Council support, if Museum can meet their overall funding target. A new Notice designating the building as a Priority Building received on 30.04.21. This changes the Due Date from 19.02.33 to 19.08.25.
Coastal 479 New Brighton Road Pavilion toilet, Bower Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 16.01.33 Reviewing location of facilities at this park.
Fendalton 185 Fendalton Road Shed, Fendalton Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 12.02.33 LTP planning
Harewood 145A Claridges Road Harewood Plant Nursery amenities building Open Parks Unit,Nurseries 19.12.32 LTP planning
Harewood 99B Claridges Road Shed, Tulett Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 18.04.33 LTP planning
Harewood 709 Harewood Road Harewood Community Centre Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report Community Facilities 09.06.25 Detailed design underway. Completion anticipated by 2022.
Hornby 34 Manurere Street Shed, Wycola Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 20.02.33 LTP planning
Hornby 34 Manurere Street Hockey pavilion, Wycola Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 20.02.33 LTP planning
Hornby 524 Pound Road Yaldhurst Memorial Hall Closed Community Facilities 27.07.35 Have engaged with local community user group who have contested seismic rating. Building included in recent ‘Streamlining Council’s Property Disposal Process’ Report to Council
Hornby 8 Wycola Avenue Hei Hei Community Link Open Community Facilities 23.01.33 LTP planning
Innes 17A Acheson Avenue Pavilion, Macfarlane Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 30.01.33 LTP planning
Innes 17B Acheson Avenue Toilets, Macfarlane Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 30.01.33 LTP planning
Innes 159 Kainga Road Kainga Hall Open Building not owned by Council but on Council land. Council owns adjoining toilet which is not EPB 11.01.33 Building not owned by Council
Linwood 170 Buckleys Road Pavilion/toilet, Bromley Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 05.02.33 LTP planning
Linwood 357 Ferry Road Toilet, Edmonds Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 22.12.32 LTP planning
Papanui 500 Papanui Road Toilet, Papanui Memorial Reserve Open Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage 22.08.25 High priority LTP planning. Funding available in LTP through reprioritisation
Riccarton 372 Riccarton Road Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library Closed Building not owned by Council but on Council land 09.04.25 Building not owned by Council. Council facilitating demolition on behalf of the Trust who own the building
Spreydon 35 Ashgrove Terrace Shelter/Shed, Ashgrove Park Open Parks Unit, Local Parks 30.01.33 LTP planning
Spreydon 85 Lyttelton Street Centennial Hall Closed Community Facilities 19.02.33 Building included in recent ‘Streamlining Council’s Property Disposal Process’ Report to Council
Spreydon 61 Mathers Road Pavilion, Hoon Hay Park Open Parks Unit,Sports Parks 15.01.33 LTP planning
Waimairi 345 Memorial Avenue Storage shed, Burnside Park Open Parks Unit, Sports Parks 15.01.33 LTP planning
Heathcote 239 Main Road, Moncks Bay Christchurch Yacht Club Open Building not owned by Council but on Council land 03.09.27 Building not owned by Council
Linwood 63 Ruru Road Garage/Lean – To (Building (ID 297742 - ID 297309 Smart map) Closed Parks Unit 06.11.28 LTP planning
Banks Peninsula 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road Little River War Memorial Gates Open Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage 11.11.28 LTP planning
Burwood 230 Pages Road (aka Shuttle Drive) Super Shed Open Parks Unit 12.05.36 LTP planning
Banks Peninsula 4 Donald Street, Lyttelton Old Name (The Stables) Closed Parks Unit Garden and Heritage 27.11.28  LTP planning 
Banks Peninsula 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road Old Shower/Toilet block now used as Storage Shed Closed Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage 31.11.28 LTP planning
Central 6 Riccarton Avenue 3 Bay Garage North Hagley Park Closed Parks Unit Garden and Heritage 13.09.24 LTP planning
Central 6 Riccarton Avenue North Hagley Park Pavilion Building (open 3 Bays) Closed Parks Unit Garden and Heritage 25.12.28 LTP planning
Banks Peninsula 12 Barclays Road, Little River Shed / Garage Heritage Park Closed Parks Unit Garden and Heritage 26.07.36 LTP planning
Cashmere 54 Colombo Street Former Control Building Open 3 Waters and Waste 30.07.36 LTP planning
Banks Peninsula 21 Marine Drive, Diamond Harbour Diamond Harbour Changing Shed Building Closed Parks Unit 28.03.29 LTP planning

Section 133AL notices have been issued under the 2016 Amendment to the Building Act, which requires earthquake-prone buildings to be strengthened or demolished within either seven and a half or 15 years, depending on the type of building and how it’s used. Until this is done, building owners must display the section 133AL notice in a prominent place so the public is aware of the building’s status.

Christchurch City Council’s consents team has sent letters containing these section133AL notices to the owners of every building in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula that is considered earthquake-prone. The Council is also receiving these letters for the earthquake-prone buildings it owns. These letters are to remind owners of their legal obligations to strengthen or demolish their buildings.

Like other building owners, the Council is required to place the notices that have been received onto affected buildings to advise the public of their earthquake-prone status. The Council is meeting legislative requirements by posting the notices on its buildings but the buildings can be occupied, as confirmed by our independent engineers.

Read the Detailed Engineering Evaluations for Council earthquake-prone buildings.