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See If You Qualify For a Seismic Retrofit Grant

The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) offers two retrofit grant programs: Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) and Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS). Each program addresses a specific vulnerability, depending on your home'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. The house is located in an eligible ZIP Code;
  3. Your house is built on level ground or a slight slope; and
  4. The house has wood framed construction.

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

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.

See if You Qualify for ESS

See if Your Home Qualifies for a CRMP 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 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.

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 $87,360 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 $87,360 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.

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.