Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit Program
A clear path through a complex requirement.
Receiving a mandatory soft-story retrofit notice can create uncertainty, added expense, and a long list of requirements. Calseismic Construction Inc. helps property owners move through the process with clarity—from engineering coordination and permitting to construction, documentation, and final program closeout.
The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit Program, commonly called EMR, provides eligible property owners with financial assistance for qualifying seismic retrofit work on certain 5–10 unit residential buildings.
For qualifying 10-unit properties, total assistance may reach $49,600.
2026 registration period: August 19 through September 30, 2026.
What Is the EMR Program?
The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit Program is administered by the California Residential Mitigation Program and supported by FEMA funding.
It was created to help owners of smaller multi-unit residential buildings comply with mandatory local soft-story retrofit ordinances. These buildings often have tuck-under parking, garages, storefronts, or other large ground-floor openings beneath occupied living areas.
While these openings provide useful space, they can leave the ground story with fewer walls available to resist earthquake movement. During strong shaking, this soft, weak, or open-front condition may allow the building to lean, shift, or experience severe ground-story damage.
A qualifying retrofit strengthens the vulnerable ground story and creates a more reliable connection between the building’s foundation, walls, floor framing, and newly installed structural elements.
Up to $49,600 in Financial Assistance.
The EMR incentive is a grant, not a loan, and does not have to be repaid when all program requirements are satisfied.
The program may reimburse:
The program may reimburse up to 70% of eligible engineering and permit expenses, with a maximum reimbursement of $7,000, and up to 70% of eligible construction costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $4,260 per residential unit.
For buildings with 5 units, the maximum construction incentive is $21,300, the engineering and permit incentive is $7,000, and the maximum potential assistance is $28,300.
For 6-unit buildings, these amounts are $25,560, $7,000, and $32,560, respectively; for 7-unit buildings, $29,820, $7,000, and $36,820; for 8-unit buildings, $34,080, $7,000, and $41,080; for 9-unit buildings, $38,340, $7,000, and $45,340; and for 10-unit buildings, $42,600, $7,000, and $49,600.
The final incentive is based on documented eligible expenses and cannot exceed the program limits. Costs above the approved incentive remain the property owner’s responsibility. Registration does not guarantee acceptance or funding.
Does Your Building Qualify?
A property generally must meet all of the following requirements:
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Be located in a participating California city
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Be listed on the city’s inventory of buildings subject to a mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinance
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Have a Notice and Order to Retrofit issued by the city
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Contain between 5 and 10 legally permitted residential units
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Be a multi-story, wood-frame building
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Have been constructed before January 1, 1991
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Have a soft, weak, or open-front condition at the ground story
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Commonly contain tuck-under parking or another open ground-floor area beneath living space
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Not have started qualifying retrofit construction before receiving CRMP authorization to proceed
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Meet all ownership, documentation, design, and program requirements
The EMR Program is currently available in the following cities:
Northern California
Albany, Berkeley, Mill Valley, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Southern California
Beverly Hills, Burbank, Culver City, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Torrance, and West Hollywood.
Participating cities and registration periods may change. Property owners should confirm current availability before applying.
Engineering Is Required.
Multi-unit soft-story retrofits require a California-licensed design professional. Depending on the building and local jurisdiction, this may be a licensed civil engineer, structural engineer, or architect authorized to prepare the necessary structural design.
The design professional must evaluate the building’s entire first story—not only the visibly open wall line. The engineer prepares the calculations and construction documents, identifies the required structural elements, and completes the program’s Seismic Design Criteria form.
The design must comply with one of the standards accepted by the EMR Program:
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FEMA P-807
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The latest applicable edition of IEBC Chapter A4
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The latest applicable edition of ASCE 41
These requirements may be more extensive than the minimum work required by a local ordinance.
Calseismic coordinates with the selected design professional so the approved structural design can be translated into a practical construction plan. We help keep the engineering, permit documents, pricing, field conditions, and construction scope aligned throughout the project.
Before You Begin
There are two separate program approvals that property owners should understand.
Program acceptance is not authorization to begin construction.
Engineering and permit expenses incurred before formal acceptance into EMR may not be reimbursable. However, obtaining those documents early does not necessarily disqualify the building.
Construction is different. Starting retrofit construction before receiving CRMP’s written authorization to proceed can make the project ineligible for the incentive—even if the work is later stopped.
To preserve eligibility:
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Register during the published enrollment period.
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Wait for formal program acceptance.
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Complete and upload the required pre-retrofit package.
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Allow CRMP and FEMA to complete their reviews.
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Do not begin construction until written authorization to proceed has been issued.
The EMR Process:
1. Property Owner Registration
The legal property owner or authorized representative must complete the initial registration and qualification questions through the CRMP portal.
Properties held by a trust, LLC, corporation, or other ownership entity may require documentation showing that the person registering has authority to act for the owner and receive grant funds.
For condominium buildings, the homeowners association may need to coordinate the registration.
Incomplete, early, or late registrations are not considered.
2. Program Selection
Qualified buildings are placed on either a Priority List or General List. Placement is based on the building’s ZIP Code and applicable HUD income data—not the income of individual tenants.
Buildings are randomized within each list. CRMP accepts buildings from the Priority List first, followed by the General List as funding allows.
Registration alone does not guarantee selection.
3. Owner Dashboard Setup
After acceptance, the property owner should log in to the Property Owner Dashboard within 30 days.
The Dashboard is used for program communications, selections, documentation, photographs, approvals, and payment information.
4. Pre-Retrofit Requirements
Within 120 days of the acceptance email, the required pre-retrofit package must generally be completed.
This includes:
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Identifying the licensed design professional
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Selecting an eligible contractor from the EMR Contractor Directory
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Uploading at least two bids from EMR Participating Contractors
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Obtaining a qualifying building permit
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Uploading the final city-approved construction documents
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Uploading the engineering calculations
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Providing the completed program design form
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Uploading the city’s Notice and Order to Retrofit
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Providing the required exterior and interior photographs
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Completing any additional ownership or property documentation requested through the Dashboard
The building permit must be specifically for the qualifying seismic retrofit and any directly related work required by the local building department.
5. CRMP and FEMA Review
After the pre-retrofit documents and photographs have been submitted, CRMP reviews the package and forwards it for the required FEMA environmental and historic-preservation review.
No construction may begin during this review.
CRMP will notify the property owner when the reviews are complete and the project is authorized to proceed.
6. Construction
Once authorization is received, the retrofit must generally be completed within 270 days or before the applicable FEMA grant deadline, whichever occurs first.
During construction, status updates and inspection records may be required. Applicable inspection stages may include:
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Foundation work
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Steel-frame installation
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Plywood sheathing and nailing
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Final inspection
The city must inspect and approve the completed retrofit.
7. Project Closeout
The post-retrofit package must generally be submitted within 30 days of completion. It includes:
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The building permit signed after final inspection
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Date-stamped photographs of the completed structural work
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Photographs taken from the same locations as the pre-retrofit images
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Photographs taken before structural plywood or steel is concealed by finishes
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Final itemized invoices and receipts
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The electronic Payment Authorization Form
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Any additional documentation requested by CRMP
Final invoices must separate EMR-eligible retrofit expenses from unrelated construction performed at the property.
Grant payments are typically issued within approximately four weeks after CRMP gives final approval to the completed package.
What Calseismic Handles:
Once selected and authorized, Calseismic Construction handles the contractor-accessible portions of the process, including:
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Reviewing the building and proposed retrofit scope
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Providing a detailed contractor bid
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Coordinating with the selected licensed design professional
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Reviewing the plans for constructability and field conditions
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Coordinating the qualifying building permit
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Organizing the required construction documentation
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Capturing and uploading required pre-retrofit photographs
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Uploading contractor-accessible documents when authorized
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Completing the approved seismic retrofit
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Coordinating required building inspections
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Providing construction progress information
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Capturing the required post-retrofit photographs before finishes are installed
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Preparing the properly itemized final invoice
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Assisting with the final closeout package
The program requires at least two bids from EMR Participating Contractors. Calseismic can provide our proposal and clearly explain what must be included in the additional independent bid.
What the Property Owner Must Complete:
Certain parts of the EMR portal are restricted to the property owner or legally authorized representative. A contractor cannot complete these actions on the owner’s behalf.
Owner-only responsibilities may include:
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Completing the initial program registration
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Answering the qualification questions
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Providing legal ownership information
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Establishing authority to act for a trust, LLC, corporation, or other entity
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Confirming that all co-owners approve the application and retrofit
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Selecting and authorizing the contractor
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Identifying or approving the licensed design professional
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Completing required attestations and electronic signatures
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Reviewing and confirming the accuracy of submitted documents
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Providing tax, identity, or payment information requested by CRMP
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Completing flood-zone acknowledgments when applicable
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Selecting the recipient of the incentive payment
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Approving the final electronic Payment Authorization Form
Calseismic will identify these steps as they arise and provide clear instructions, so the property owner knows what requires attention and what we can handle directly.
The property owner remains responsible for reviewing the complete submission, including materials uploaded by an authorized contractor.
Additional Rules to Know:
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A contractor must hold an active California Type A or B license, remain in good standing, and appear in the EMR Contractor Directory.
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The property owner may apply for no more than 10 eligible buildings in California.
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The same construction scope cannot receive funding from another federal source.
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Buildings in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area may require a signed, notarized, and recorded acknowledgment along with proof of current flood insurance.
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Historic properties remain subject to FEMA environmental and historic-preservation requirements.
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CRMP may inspect the retrofit as a condition of payment or for quality assurance.
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A previously completed and city-finaled line-only retrofit may qualify under a limited exception, but the new EMR scope must satisfy the complete program requirements.
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Removing or disposing of previous retrofit work is not an EMR-reimbursable expense.
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Missing documents or missed deadlines can affect eligibility.
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Retrofit work reduces earthquake risk but does not make a building earthquake-proof.
Protect the Building Behind the Requirement.
A mandatory retrofit may begin as a city obligation, but the result is an opportunity to strengthen the property, protect its occupants, and preserve a valuable long-term investment.
Calseismic Construction brings the engineering team, documentation, permitting, and construction process together under one clear plan. We keep property owners informed, organize the contractor-accessible requirements, and explain every owner-only action before it becomes a deadline.
Start with a clear assessment of your property and its EMR eligibility.
Calseismic Construction Inc.
CSLB #1106859
510-621-4524
www.calseismicconstruction.com
Program funding, eligibility, participating locations, deadlines, and documentation requirements are controlled by CRMP and may change. Calseismic Construction cannot guarantee program acceptance or incentive payment. Current CRMP Program Rules and Dashboard instructions govern in the event of any difference.