The Civic Centre and the Dunedin Railway Station are among several council building being assessed by local engineers, who are reported to be scarce since last year's Christchurch earthquake.
Engineering consultant Nigel Harwood, employed in January to assess the Civic Centre, said it was well above the minimum safety requirement of 34% of the building code requirements - rating it 143%.
"The building was conservatively designed, and well designed, so it is possible to come out higher than 100%."
Ratings took into account the age of the building, the materials used and the layout structure, he said.
"It is a very quick and reasonable indication. People would be able to walk out of it [in an earthquake].
"You design buildings for an earthquake that will come along every five years ... one that is really prudent and able to behave as we want it to in an earthquake, according to modern standards."
The railway station had been assessed by another engineer and was given a 67% rating - a performance standard set by the council.
The council's earthquake-prone buildings policy requires owners to have their buildings assessed within a two-year period from July.
The policy states certain areas of the city are at greater risk than others because they are built on reclaimed land or other land potentially subject to liquefaction.
"The combination of unreinforced brick and masonry buildings in areas subject to liquefaction is an issue of particular concern for Dunedin City Council."
Mr Harwood said he expected further changes from the Government in regard to safety standards buildings would now have to meet.
DCC's chief building control officer Neil McLeod said building owners were encouraged to get their assessments done early in the two-year period as it would allow more time for any required work to be completed.
"The sooner they get on with it the better."
Mr McLeod said the "great fear" of a possible lack of structural engineers in the city should be considered.
