A stronger home. A simpler process.

 

The Earthquake Soft-Story Program helps qualifying California homeowners strengthen houses with living space above a garage.

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These homes can be especially vulnerable during an earthquake because the large garage-door opening leaves fewer walls available to resist side-to-side movement.

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Calseismic Construction simplifies the process—from the initial inspection and retrofit planning through permitting, construction, documentation, and final inspection.

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We manage every portion of the application available to your contractor. You remain informed, protected, and in control throughout the process.

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Financial Assistance for Qualifying Homeowners.

 

The Earthquake Soft-Story Program may reimburse up to 75% of eligible retrofit costs.

The maximum available grant is currently:

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• Up to $10,000 for qualifying Type 1 and Type 2 homes

• Up to $13,000 for qualifying Type 3 and Type 4 homes

 

The exact amount depends on the configuration of the house, eligible project costs, and final program approval.

ESS is a reimbursement program. Grant funds are generally issued after the retrofit has been completed and the required closeout documentation has been approved.

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What an ESS Retrofit Addresses:

 

An ESS retrofit is intended to create a stronger connection between the house, lower-story walls, floor framing, and foundation.

Depending on the home, the work may include:

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• Strengthening the walls surrounding the garage door

• Installing plywood, steel columns, or approved structural elements

• Bracing full-height and cripple walls

• Bolting the house to its foundation

• Strengthening an adjoining crawlspace

• Constructing new reinforced concrete foundation sections where required

• Establishing a continuous seismic load path throughout the lower story

 

Qualifying ESS retrofits must meet or exceed the requirements of FEMA P-1100.

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Before You Begin:

 

Do not obtain a building permit or begin retrofit work before receiving your program acceptance.

Even after acceptance, construction cannot begin until the required pre-retrofit documents have been reviewed and you receive formal authorization from the program to proceed.

Beginning work too early can make the entire project ineligible for reimbursement.

Calseismic helps organize the process in the correct order so every required step is completed at the appropriate time.

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Basic Eligibility:

 

A home may qualify when it:

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• Is located within an eligible ESS ZIP Code

• Was built before 2000

• Is the homeowner’s primary residence

• Is owned by the person applying

• Is a single-family home no more than two stories

• Sits on level ground or a low slope

• Has qualifying living space located above an attached garage

• Is suitable for a FEMA P-1100 retrofit

 

  Previous participation in the Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program does not automatically disqualify a homeowner. Some homes require both a garage-area retrofit and additional crawlspace strengthening.

Final eligibility and acceptance are determined by the California Residential Mitigation Program.

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Your ESS Project, Step by Step.

 

1. Register for the Program.

 

Homeowners must register during an open ESS registration period.

The registration must be completed using the homeowner’s legal name and accurate property information. Registration does not guarantee acceptance. When applications exceed available funding, homeowners may be selected through a random-selection process or placed on a waitlist.

This initial registration belongs to the homeowner and cannot be completed through a contractor’s dashboard.

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2. Receive Your Acceptance Notice.

 

If selected, you will receive an acceptance notice from the program.

Do not begin work or apply for a permit before this notice is received.

Once accepted, the homeowner will generally have 90 days to select a contractor and submit the required pre-retrofit documents through the Property Owner Dashboard.

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3. Select Calseismic as Your Contractor.

 

The homeowner must personally select their contractor through the ESS Property Owner Dashboard.

Calseismic cannot select itself or complete this step on your behalf.

Once you select and authorize Calseismic, we can begin assisting with the contractor-accessible portions of your application and project documentation.

ESS work must be completed by a California-licensed Type A or Type B general contractor listed in the ESS Contractor Directory. Owner-builder and do-it-yourself retrofits do not qualify.

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4. Complete the Inspection and Project Scope.

 

Calseismic will inspect the accessible portions of your home and identify the conditions that must be addressed under FEMA P-1100.

We will develop a clear retrofit scope based on the home’s configuration, including the garage opening, lower-story walls, foundation, and crawlspace when applicable.

You will then receive a detailed proposal identifying the work and anticipated project cost.

If the selected bid exceeds $10,000, ESS currently requires the homeowner to obtain and upload a second bid from another participating contractor. If a homeowner selects a bid other than the lowest bid, the program may require a written explanation.

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5. Complete Homeowner Verification.

 

Certain portions of the ESS application contain private information and are not accessible through the contractor’s dashboard.

The homeowner must personally complete any requested:

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• Taxpayer verification

• IRS Form W-9

• Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number information

• Proof of ownership or primary residence

• Co-owner notification and authorization

• Program acknowledgments or certifications

 

Calseismic can explain where these items belong, but we cannot view, enter, or submit private tax-verification information on your behalf.

Your financial and identity information remains under your control.

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6. Prepare the Pre-Retrofit Package.

 

Once authorized, Calseismic can help prepare and submit the contractor-accessible project documents, including:

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• Contractor proposal and required bid information

• Retrofit plans and drawings

• FEMA P-1100 construction details

• Building-permit documentation

• Required pre-retrofit photographs

• Garage and crawlspace photographs

• Date-stamped exterior photographs

• Contractor license and project information

• Clarifications requested during program review

The building permit must be issued after acceptance into ESS and must be limited to the qualifying seismic retrofit work. Unrelated remodeling or construction should be placed on a separate permit. 

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7. Wait for Approval to Proceed.

 

After the pre-retrofit package is reviewed by the California Residential Mitigation Program, the documents may be forwarded to FEMA for environmental and historic-preservation review.

This review may take up to approximately 10 weeks.

Construction must not begin during this review period.

You will receive an official notice when the project is approved to proceed. Calseismic will coordinate the construction schedule after that authorization is received.

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8. Complete the Retrofit.

 

The retrofit generally must be completed within 180 days after authorization to proceed, although the available period may be shorter when federal grant deadlines apply.

Calseismic will:

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• Coordinate the approved retrofit work

• Install the required seismic connections

• Maintain compliance with the approved plans

• Schedule required building inspections

• Document concealed and completed work

• Address inspection corrections when required

• Obtain final building-department approval

 

Our objective is simple: deliver a precise retrofit while keeping the program requirements organized from beginning to end.

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9. Complete the Final Documentation.

 

After construction, Calseismic will help assemble the contractor-accessible closeout package.

This may include:

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• The building permit signed after final inspection

• Photographs of the completed retrofit

• Matching before-and-after exterior photographs

• Crawlspace photographs when applicable

• Water-heater bracing photographs

• Final invoices and receipts

• Labor, material, overhead, and project-cost details

• Confirmation of completed FEMA P-1100 work

Post-retrofit documentation generally must be submitted within 30 days after the work is completed.

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10. Provide Final Homeowner Authorization.

 

The final authorization must be completed personally by the homeowner.

This includes reviewing the submitted documentation for accuracy and electronically completing the Payment Authorization Form.

The Payment Authorization Form identifies whether the approved incentive payment will be issued to the homeowner or the contractor.

Calseismic cannot approve this final authorization on your behalf. We will let you know when the contractor portion is complete and guide you to the remaining homeowner action.

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What Calseismic Handles:

 

When authorized through the program, Calseismic can assist with:

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• Property and retrofit evaluation

• FEMA P-1100 scope development

• Contractor proposals

• Plans and construction details

• Permit coordination

• Pre-retrofit photographs

• Contractor-accessible dashboard uploads

• Program clarification requests

• Construction and project management

• Building inspections

• Post-retrofit photographs

• Final invoices and receipts

• Contractor closeout documentation

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What the Homeowner Must Complete:

 

For your security and program compliance, you must personally complete:

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• Initial ESS registration

• Contractor selection

• Private tax and identity verification

• IRS Form W-9, when requested

• Co-owner authorization

• Review of submitted information

• Final Payment Authorization Form

• Selection of the incentive-payment recipient

• Any final homeowner acknowledgment required by the program

We will remind you when these actions are needed and explain what comes next.

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We Manage the Process. You Stay in Control.

 

The ESS process includes strict documentation, approval, and construction deadlines. You do not have to navigate those requirements alone.

Calseismic Construction combines specialized seismic-retrofit knowledge with organized project support. We manage the technical work, help maintain your documentation, and keep each phase moving in the correct order.

You complete only the private homeowner actions that the program requires you to control.

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Start with Calseismic.

 

If you have been accepted into the Earthquake Soft-Story Program, contact Calseismic before your 90-day deadline. We will help you understand the next step, protect your eligibility, and keep your project moving without guesswork.

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We will review your home, explain the next steps, and help you move forward with clarity.

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Calseismic Construction Inc.

CSLB #1106859

510-621-4524

www.calseismicconstruction.com

 

Program eligibility, grant amounts, deadlines, and reimbursement are determined by the California Residential Mitigation Program and may change. Homeowners should follow the requirements displayed in their Property Owner Dashboard and the current official ESS Program Rules.