The area around the epicenter being sparsely populated, the most severe damage was in Paso Robles, 24 miles (39 km) east-southeast.

Another hot spring flowed out of the embankment at the Paso Robles Street exit on U.S. Route 101.

There was a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the relatives of the 2 women killed in the earthquake against Mary Mastagni, and several trusts which owned the Acorn Building.

Buildings even 40 miles from the epicenter in San Luis Obispo suffered minor damage such as ceiling tiles falling.

Residential buildings, predominantly one- to two-story wood-frame structures, weathered the quake with little or no damage.

In Templeton, Bethel Lutheran Church (ELCA), sustained major damage to its 110+ year old building and the apse had to be rebuilt.

2533, amending the California Business and Professions Code § 8875.8, requiring that certain unreinforced masonry buildings that have not been seismically retrofitted have posted notice of the potential earthquake hazard.