EARTHQUAKE BRACE + BOLT PROGRAM
STRENGTH STARTS BENEATH.
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program provides eligible California homeowners with up to $3,000 toward a qualifying, code-compliant seismic retrofit.
Additional Supplemental Grant funding may be available to qualifying income-eligible households and may cover up to 100% of eligible retrofit costs, subject to program limits and available funding.
Calseismic makes the process simple. You provide the private homeowner information that contractors cannot access. Once authorized, we coordinate the retrofit and handle every document, photograph, permit, and program upload available to participating contractors.
CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY.
WORK WITH CALSEISMIC.
WHAT IS EARTHQUAKE BRACE + BOLT?
A house can look secure above ground while remaining vulnerable where its wood framing meets the concrete foundation.
During strong earthquake shaking, an inadequately secured house may slide, shift, or topple from its foundation. The Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program—commonly called EBB—helps eligible property owners strengthen this critical connection.
An EBB retrofit may include:
• Securing the wood framing to the concrete foundation
• Bracing existing cripple walls with structural plywood
• Connecting the floor framing to the braced walls
• Strengthening the load path around the crawlspace perimeter
• Properly bracing and strapping the water heater
The completed retrofit must comply with applicable program requirements, an accepted standard plan, or an approved engineered design when required.
TWO TYPES OF EBB RETROFITS:
BOLT-ONLY RETROFIT
A bolt-only retrofit may be appropriate when the floor framing sits close to or directly above the concrete foundation without a vulnerable wood-framed cripple wall.
Approved anchor bolts, foundation plates, framing clips, or transfer ties are installed to strengthen the connection between the house and its foundation.
BRACE + BOLT RETROFIT
A brace + bolt retrofit is generally used when short wood-framed cripple walls support the floor system between the foundation and the living space.
These walls are anchored to the foundation, braced with structural plywood, and connected to the floor framing above. Together, these components create a stronger and more continuous load path through the crawlspace.
Calseismic will inspect the accessible foundation and framing conditions to determine which retrofit approach appears appropriate. CRMP and the local building department retain final authority over program eligibility and plan approval.
COULD YOUR HOUSE QUALIFY?
Your property may qualify for EBB if:
• The house was constructed before 1980
• It is a wood-framed residence
• It has a raised foundation or crawlspace beneath the first floor
• It is located in an eligible California ZIP Code
• It is constructed on level ground or a slight slope
• A qualifying brace + bolt retrofit has not already been completed
• The legal property owner completes the registration accurately
• The retrofit meets all current EBB requirements
Both owner-occupied and qualifying non-owner-occupied residences may be eligible.
Registration is available only during designated enrollment periods. After registration closes, CRMP selects participants and may place additional applicants on a waitlist. Registration does not guarantee acceptance or funding.
THE EBB GRANT
STANDARD EBB GRANT:
Eligible participants may receive up to $3,000 toward an approved, code-compliant seismic retrofit.
SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT:
Additional assistance may be available to qualifying income-eligible households. When combined with the standard EBB grant, Supplemental Grant funding may cover up to 100% of eligible retrofit costs, subject to regional limits and available funding.
CRMP establishes the income limit and Supplemental Grant amounts. These figures may be updated annually.
The EBB Program is generally reimbursement-based. Grant payment is issued after the approved retrofit is completed and the required documentation has been reviewed and accepted. Supplemental Grant participants may be eligible for earlier reimbursement of certain approved permit or estimate expenses.
CRMP determines eligibility, funding source, reimbursement, and final grant amounts.
A CLEAR PATH THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
STEP 1
REGISTER WITH CRMP
The homeowner creates a private account and completes the EBB registration directly with CRMP.
You will answer questions about the property, its age, foundation, occupancy, location, and construction. These answers must be accurate and are the homeowner’s responsibility.
If you wish to be considered for Supplemental Grant funding, indicate that during registration.
STEP 2
WAIT FOR ACCEPTANCE
After registration closes, CRMP will notify you by email if you have been accepted, waitlisted, or not selected.
Do not obtain the seismic retrofit permit or begin construction before receiving program acceptance. A permit dated before acceptance or work started too early may make the project ineligible for payment.
STEP 3
SELECT CALSEISMIC
If accepted, select and authorize Calseismic Construction Inc. through your Homeowner Dashboard.
EBB participants hiring a contractor must choose a contractor listed in the program’s Contractor Directory. Calseismic is trained to perform qualifying EBB retrofit work and understands the program’s documentation and construction requirements.
If a retrofit proposal exceeds the program’s bid threshold, the homeowner may be required to obtain an additional bid from another participating contractor.
STEP 4
COMPLETE YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION
Some portions of the Homeowner Dashboard are intentionally unavailable to contractors.
The homeowner is responsible for completing private or owner-only items, which may include:
• Personal account and contact information
• Property ownership confirmation
• Contractor selection and authorization
• Taxpayer or payment information
• Supplemental Grant income verification
• Social Security or tax identification information when required
• Owner acknowledgments, certifications, and final authorizations
• Flood-zone documents when applicable
Calseismic will explain when one of these items is needed, but we cannot access or submit private information that CRMP reserves for the homeowner.
STEP 5
CALSEISMIC HANDLES THE PRE-RETROFIT PROCESS
Once authorized, Calseismic coordinates the contractor-accessible portion of the project.
We will:
• Inspect the accessible crawlspace and foundation
• Identify the apparent retrofit type and qualifying scope
• Prepare a detailed proposal
• Coordinate the required plans or drawings
• Obtain the seismic retrofit permit after program acceptance
• Take the required exterior, crawlspace, access, and water-heater photographs
• Upload the proposal, permit, plans, photographs, and contractor documentation
• Respond to contractor-accessible correction requests
• Monitor the dashboard and program deadlines
• Keep you informed of any homeowner-only action
Pre-retrofit documents must be submitted within the timeline shown in your Homeowner Dashboard.
STEP 6
WAIT FOR AUTHORIZATION TO BEGIN
Submitting the documents does not mean construction can begin.
CRMP—and FEMA when applicable—must review the pre-retrofit submission and issue written authorization to proceed. Calseismic will monitor the review and will not begin the retrofit until authorization has been received.
STEP 7
COMPLETE THE RETROFIT
After written approval, Calseismic schedules and completes the seismic retrofit within the program deadline.
The work may include foundation anchorage, structural plywood, framing connections, transfer ties, hold-downs, approved fasteners, and water-heater bracing, depending on the approved scope.
We coordinate the required building inspections and document the installation throughout construction.
STEP 8
FINAL DOCUMENTATION AND GRANT PAYMENT
After construction is complete, Calseismic handles the contractor-accessible closeout process.
We will:
• Take the required post-retrofit photographs
• Upload the final permit and inspection documentation
• Submit the final invoice and construction information
• Respond to contractor-accessible correction requests
• Guide you through any remaining homeowner-only approval
• Help keep the submission moving toward final review and payment
Required post-retrofit documents are generally due within 30 days after construction is completed. CRMP reviews the completed submission and determines the final grant payment.
WHAT THE HOMEOWNER HANDLES:
Your role is intentionally limited and clearly defined.
You will:
• Register directly with CRMP
• Answer the qualification questions accurately
• Monitor important program emails
• Accept participation when selected
• Select and authorize Calseismic
• Complete private identity, ownership, tax, and income information
• Sign required homeowner-only authorizations
• Provide access to the property
• Pay any project costs not covered by the approved grant
We will notify you whenever your personal action is required.
WHAT CALSEISMIC HANDLES:
Once you authorize us, Calseismic manages every part of the process available to participating contractors.
We handle:
• Property evaluation
• Retrofit planning
• Contractor proposal and documentation
• Permit coordination
• Required contractor-accessible photographs
• Pre-retrofit uploads
• Program-compliant construction
• Building inspections
• Post-retrofit uploads
• Final invoices and closeout documentation
• Dashboard monitoring and deadline guidance
You maintain control of your private information. We manage the retrofit.
WHY CALSEISMIC?
PROGRAM EXPERIENCE.
EBB projects have precise rules, documentation requirements, photographs, deadlines, and construction standards. We understand how these pieces work together.
CLEAN, PURPOSEFUL WORKMANSHIP.
Every plate, bolt, clip, strap, panel, and framing connection has a specific purpose. We focus on careful installation and clear documentation from beginning to completion.
ONE POINT OF COORDINATION.
Instead of managing the contractor, permit, photographs, documents, inspections, and uploads separately, you work with one experienced team.
LIMITED LIFETIME WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY.
Eligible seismic retrofit work performed by Calseismic is backed by our Limited Lifetime Workmanship Warranty for as long as the original contracting customer owns the property, subject to the written warranty terms, exclusions, and requirements.
Because our responsibility should not end when construction is complete.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
HOW MUCH FUNDING DOES EBB PROVIDE?
Eligible participants may receive up to $3,000 toward a qualifying seismic retrofit. Additional Supplemental Grant funding may be available to income-eligible households.
DOES EVERY EBB RETROFIT REQUIRE AN ENGINEER?
No. Many qualifying houses can be retrofitted using CEBC Chapter A3 or an accepted standard plan. An engineer or architect may be required when the property has conditions outside the prescriptive requirements.
CAN I USE ANY CONTRACTOR?
No. Homeowners hiring a contractor must select one listed in the EBB Contractor Directory.
CAN I OBTAIN A PERMIT BEFORE I AM ACCEPTED?
No. The permit must be obtained and dated after program acceptance. Obtaining it too early may make the project ineligible for grant payment.
CAN CONSTRUCTION BEGIN AFTER THE DOCUMENTS ARE UPLOADED?
Not immediately. Construction must wait until the required documents have been reviewed and written authorization to proceed has been issued.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THE GRANT?
EBB is generally a reimbursement program. Payment is issued after the retrofit is completed and the final documentation is reviewed and approved.
CAN CALSEISMIC ACCESS MY INCOME OR TAX INFORMATION?
No. Private income, identity, tax, and owner-only information remains under the homeowner’s control. Calseismic handles every upload and process step the program makes available to the authorized contractor.
WHAT IF THE PROGRAM REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION?
If the request involves contractor-accessible documentation, Calseismic will handle it. If the program requires private homeowner information or authorization, we will tell you exactly what is needed.
STRENGTH BEGINS BENEATH YOUR HOME.
The grant helps make the work possible. Calseismic makes the process clear.
If you have been accepted into Earthquake Brace + Bolt—or believe your house may qualify—contact us before obtaining a permit or beginning construction.
WORK WITH CALSEISMIC.
CHECK YOUR EBB ELIGIBILITY.
Calseismic Construction Inc.
CSLB License #1106859
510-621-4524
info@calseismicconstruction.com
PROGRAM NOTICE:
Calseismic Construction Inc. is an independent participating contractor and is not employed by CRMP, the California Earthquake Authority, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or FEMA.
CRMP determines program eligibility, acceptance, funding, deadlines, documentation requirements, and grant payment. Program rules and funding limits may change. Homeowners should review their current Homeowner Dashboard and the official CRMP Program Rules before beginning any permit or construction activity.
The Limited Lifetime Workmanship Warranty is not earthquake insurance and does not guarantee that earthquake damage will not occur. Coverage is subject to Calseismic’s written warranty terms, exclusions, and claim requirements.