In 1990, a $2 million renovation brought it up to modern earthquake codes and restored its 1930s appearance.

The hotel closed in 1985 after the main building ceased to meet new earthquake codes, which had been changed due to the disastrous 1985 Mexico City earthquake.

Some of the houses and office buildings that collapsed might have been built before the earthquake code was revised in the 1970s.

But due to strict earthquake codes enforced after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, portions of the school was condemned and demolished.

In October 2012 it was announced that the Opera House is below 34% of the earthquake code and may have to close for strengthening [1].

A spokesman for Ginsberg said the filing was to "beat a deadline for new, more stringent earthquake codes, which went into effect earlier" in 1996.

The anchor booths atop rickety scaffolding, hollow cities unlikely to meet any local earthquake code, have their own hierarchy as well.

California builders would like the insurance department to adopt a similar system of discounts for homes meeting new earthquake codes.

"They're built not only to earthquake codes, but also to avoid vibration altogether," he said.

The Presidio Fire Station was recently rehabilitated to bring it up to earthquake code, and to enlarge it to accommodate modern fire fighting equipment.