The Dunedin City Council is sending letters to owners of non-residential buildings, notifying them of the requirement to have their buildings inspected for earthquake safety.
The council's earthquake-prone buildings policy requires owners to have initial assessments of their buildings done within a two-year period from July.
The council will then compile a register of earthquake-prone buildings in the city.
Heritage policy planner Glen Hazelton said the council would work closely with owners to improve safety without demolishing buildings that make up the character of the city.
When an engineer's assessment was completed, owners would know what was needed to bring buildings up to the required standard, and the timeframe for doing so.
Depending on the use and current performance of the building, that would range from 15 to 30 years. Buildings undergoing significant alterations or change of use would have less time.
