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See If You Qualify For a Seismic Retrofit Grant

The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) offers three retrofit grant programs: Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB), Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS), and Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR). Each program addresses a specific vulnerability, depending on your building's construction type.

CRMP Grant Program Qualifications

To qualify for an EBB or ESS residential retrofit grant, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. You own and live in the house;
  2. Non-owner-occupied residences are now eligible for an EBB retrofit. 
  3. The house is located in an eligible ZIP Code;
  4. Your house is built on level ground or a slight slope; and
  5. The house has wood framed construction.

Below are the additional specific criteria for the EBB and ESS programs.

Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)

In addition to the four criteria listed in the CRMP Grant Program Qualifications section, your home must also meet the following criteria:

  • Your house was built before 1980;
  • Your house has a raised foundation or crawl space under the house, and
  • You have not already completed a brace and bolt retrofit.

See if You Qualify for ESS

See if Your Home Qualifies for a CRMP Retrofit

An EBB retrofit helps homeowners lessen the potential for damage to their houses during an earthquake by "bracing" the crawl space, when necessary, and "bolting" the foundation to the house's frame. This helps prevent the house from sliding or toppling off of its foundation during an earthquake.

Qualified homeowners can receive a grant of up to $3,000 toward a building code-compliant earthquake retrofit. EBB also offers a Supplemental Grant to homeowners with an annual household income of $94,480 or less, as funding permits.

Supplemental Grant (EBB Only)

A supplemental grant may be available for qualified income-eligible homeowners in the EBB Program, with an annual household income of $94,480 or less. If you apply for the Supplemental Grant, all income earners that reside in the household must complete the electronic Income Verification Form on your Dashboard within 30 days. Failure to submit the form within 30 days of acceptance into the EBB program will result in forfeiting the opportunity to receive a Supplemental Grant.

Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS)

In addition to the four criteria listed above in the CRMP Grant Program Qualifications section, your home must also meet the following criteria:

  • Your house was built before 2000;
  • Your house has a living space over the garage;
  • Your house has no more than two stories; and
  • You have not already completed a soft-story retrofit.

An ESS retrofit is for homes with a living space over the garage, also known as a "soft story." The ESS retrofit strengthens the garage walls and structure, including the walls on either side of the garage door. This helps prevent the living space over the garage from collapsing into the garage during an earthquake.

ESS-qualified homeowners can receive a grant of up to $13,000 toward a seismic retrofit for homes with a living space above the garage.

Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR)

The building must meet the following criteria: 

  • Located in a program-eligible city that has a mandatory, multi-unit residential soft-story retrofit ordinance, 
  • Multi-story, wood-framed, and built before 1991, 
  • Has 5–10 units, 
  • Has “tuck-under” parking on the ground floor beneath the living area,  
  • The building owner has received a notice and order to retrofit from their city, and 
  • The retrofit is a full ground-floor retrofit in accordance with FEMA P-807, IEBC Chapter A4 (latest edition), or ASCE 41 (latest edition); a line-only retrofit does not qualify for this program. 

The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) strengthens multi-unit residential structures that have a soft, weak, or open front (SWOF) seismic deficiency such as tuck-under parking or open space on the ground floor. 

Learn more about the EMR Program 
Learn more about EMR Program Rules 

Register for a Grant Program

When registration for one of the retrofit programs is open, you can complete Registration online or request a paper registration form to mail. You will be asked questions about your house, and your answers will determine if your home qualifies for one of our retrofit grants.