The provisions of these requirements shall apply to all buildings having unreinforced masonry bearing walls as defined herein. It is recognized that strengthening was done to many unreinforced masonry buildings following the 1952 Kern County earthquake. The engineer or architect retained by the building owner and the city building official shall give full consideration to any strengthening done when analyzing the existing condition of the building as required by this chapter. Where strengthening was done which may not fully comply with the provisions of this chapter, approval may be granted by the city building official if the building’s condition complies with the intent of this chapter.

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the building owner, his or her architect or engineer from employing accepted alternative methods to prove the minimum seismic safety of a building. In the event an alternative method is employed by the building owner, his or her architect or engineer which is not accepted by the city building official, the building owner shall have the right to appeal that decision to the board of building appeals. (Ord. 3552 § 1, 1993)