Earthquake Brace + Bolt Grant: $3,000 (or $10,000 if You Qualify)
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant from CRMP pays up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant retrofit on a pre-1980 wood-framed California home with a raised foundation. Households with annual income at or under $94,480 can stack an additional supplemental grant of up to $7,000 — a $10,000 ceiling. The program is ZIP-restricted with periodic registration windows.
The numbers, straight from CRMP
Stacked, the ceiling is $10,000. For a typical $5,000–$7,000 brace-and-bolt, an income-eligible homeowner often comes out with zero retrofit cost.
Eligibility, in plain terms
- Built before 1980.
- Wood-framed.
- Raised foundation with cripple wall or stem wall — a crawl space underneath.
- Located in an eligible ZIP. CRMP keeps the live list at their program ZIP page; we link rather than embed because the list updates each cycle.
- Registered during an open program window. Registration is not always on.
What "code-compliant" means here
The retrofit must follow IEBC Appendix A4 or the California building code retrofit standard, performed by a participating contractor. CRMP issues a verification number when the work passes; that number is also what CEA accepts in lieu of a separate DRV inspection for the insurance discount.
Process and timeline
- Check ZIP eligibility on CRMP. Sign up for window notifications.
- When a window opens, register online with property details and (optionally) income documentation for the supplemental.
- If selected, choose a participating contractor and get the retrofit done within the program deadline.
- Submit completion documentation; CRMP issues a verification number.
- Use the verification number with your CEA insurer to claim the hazard-reduction discount on your next renewal.
What about soft story?
Soft-story homes (living space over the garage) use the related ESS program, with grants up to $13,000. Same ZIP-restricted, contractor-required mechanics. See the soft-story page.
For the dollars in your specific case, drop your inputs into the calculator on the homepage — it does the grant math, the CEA discount math, and the net out-of-pocket in one pass.
FAQ
How much is the EBB grant?
Up to $3,000 base. Households with annual income at or under $94,480 can stack an additional supplemental of up to $7,000, for a maximum of $10,000. Per CRMP.
Who qualifies?
Wood-framed, pre-1980 California homes with a raised foundation (cripple wall or stem wall in the crawl space), located in an eligible ZIP code, registered during an open program window. CRMP maintains the live eligible-ZIP list.
Is the supplemental automatic if I am low-income?
No. You apply for it during registration with income documentation. The base $3,000 grant does not require income testing.
Does the grant cover anything besides the retrofit?
It covers the code-compliant brace-and-bolt retrofit itself: bolts, plywood, labor, and the participating contractor's permit work. Add-ons like chimney removal or water heater strapping are not EBB scope.
Does completing EBB automatically get me the CEA discount?
Yes. CEA accepts a valid Brace + Bolt verification number in lieu of a separately-signed DRV inspection. See the CEA discount page.
What if my home is built in 1980 or later?
You are not EBB-eligible. The program is specifically pre-1980 housing stock. A retrofit may still be smart for life-safety reasons; the calculator will say so.
Continue your survey
- Brace + Bolt Cost What a standard pre-1980 raised-foundation retrofit actually costs, with and without the grant.
- Soft-Story Retrofit Cost Living space over the garage. Single-family-home range, not commercial multi-unit ordinance numbers.
- CEA Insurance Discount 10–25 percent off the CEA earthquake premium for a retrofitted raised-foundation home built before 1980.