The buildings - which range from meeting 10-67% of the National Building Standard (NBS) - were identified following initial seismic assessments done several years ago by a structural engineer.
They include various Central Otago memorial halls and service centres, as well as the Alexandra Community Centre (21% of NBS), Clyde Railway Station (28%), Naseby General Store (19%) and several buildings in the Clyde Briar and Thyme Museum complex (17-31%).
Under national legislation the council has 7.5 years to strengthen high-risk priority buildings and 12.5 years to strengthen medium-risk priority buildings.
Priority buildings include those used in emergencies and as hospitals and education buildings.
The council has 15 years to strengthen other high-risk buildings, and 25 years to strengthen other medium-risk buildings.
However, the council decided to strengthen the Roxburgh Service Centre and Ranfurly Service Centre sooner, to 67% of the NBS, as they would likely be needed as bases in an emergency, a report by council property officer Tara Bates to be discussed at today's council meeting said.
The work on the Roxburgh centre has been done, and it now meets the 67% threshold.
Design work is being done for the Ranfurly centre, which only meets 17% of the NBS.
National legislation defined Central Otago as a ''medium risk'' area, Ms Bates' report said.
There was no legislative requirement to close buildings that have been identified as earthquake-prone, and it was up to council to decide what the risks were for council-owned buildings ''and whether to take any action'', she said.
Her report recommends developing a risk framework for earthquake-prone buildings, and to make assessment of the Cromwell Memorial Hall - for which a proposed major upgrade was thrown out by the Cromwell Community Board, and which meets only 10-15% of the NBS - a priority against that framework.
