In order to determine the earthquake performance of structural elements, the deformation-based damage limits for reinforced concrete elements in Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC) 2018 were analyzed analytically. Reinforced concrete column models with square cross-section having different parameters were designed. From the moment-curvature relationships based on real material behaviors, curvature ductility and yield rotation values were obtained for column sections. Analytically investigated parameters were calculated from TBEC 2018 provisions and moment-curvature relationships. Afterward, deformation based damage limits given in TBEC 2018 were analyzed analytically in order to determine the earthquake performance of reinforced concrete columns. For the collapse prevention, controlled damage and limited damage performance levels defined in TBEC 2018, deformation limits and plastic rotation values of reinforced concrete columns were obtained. For the reinforced concrete columns, the damage limits corresponding to the deformation demands according to different damage limits were observed and the damage limits were evaluated. The performance values of the columns were investigated by calculating the deformation limits for differentperformance levels of reinforced concrete columns, total unit deformations of concrete calculated according to different confining reinforcement ratios, and yield rotation and plastic rotation values at different axial load levels. From the analysis, it was obtained that the damage limits decreased with the increase of the axial load level, the amount of confining reinforcement became more important at the same axial load levels and the damage limits envisaged by the regulation were extremely effective.