The　interstory　drift　ratios　(IDRs)　associated　with　the　performance　objectives　for　the　underground　structure　are　not　well　defined.　In　this　paper,　four　levels　of　performance　objectives　are　defined　for　shallow-buried　subway　station　structure:　operational,　immediate　occupancy,　life　safety,　and　collapse　prevention.　In　order　to　develop　IDRs　corresponding　to　these　performance　objectives,　18　subway　station　structures　were　selected　for　this　study.　Pushover　analyses　were　conducted　using　three-dimensional　finite-element　models　considering　two　conditions　of　seismic　loading:　vertical　and　horizontal　ground　motions;　and　horizontal　ground　motion　only.　Shear-displacement　capacity　curves　of　the　18　subway　station　structures　were　obtained,　and　IDR　limits　were　defined　for　each　structure　based　on　the　relationship　between　the　capacity　curves　and　performance　objective.　Statistical　analysis　of　the　results　demonstrated　that　the　IDR　limits　considering　the　vertical　ground　motion　(characterized　by　the　same　frequency　with　horizontal　component)　are　smaller　than　that　without　consideration　of　the　vertical　ground　motion.　Based　on　these　results,　the　IDR　limit　of　0.05%,　0.21%,　0.46%,　and　0.72%　is　assigned　for　the　four　performance　levels,　respectively,　for　rectangular　frame　underground　structures.　The　performance　evaluation　applied　to　Daikai　station　based　on　the　proposed　limits　is　found　to　be　consistent　with　the　actual　postearthquake　damage　observations.　The　proposed　limits　of　IDR　could　provide　some　guidance　to　the　seismic　design　of　underground　structures,　and　could　form　the　basis　for　developing　appropriate　performance　limits　for　seismic　provisions　in　design　codes　relevant　to　underground　structures.