The Earthquake Brace & Bolt Program
The EBB Program offers significant benefits to California homeowners. By participating, you can have your home retrofitted to current seismic standards and receive grant funds.Grant amounts vary. All eligible recipients receive a base grant of $3,000. Additionally, supplemental grant recipients may receive up to an extra $7,000, depending on the type of retrofit (bolt-only or brace and bolt).
there are two Types of EBB Seismic retrofits
Bolt only seismic retrofit
The EBB bolt-only seismic retrofit is designed specifically for homes built on a raised foundation. This type of home does not have wood-framed walls supporting the living area from the crawl space, and therefore, it typically requires the installation of only foundation plates and shear transfer ties, without the need for plywood bracing.
Cripple wall brace and bolt seismic retrofit
The EBB cripple wall brace and bolt retrofit is designed for homes with wood-framed walls that support the living area from the crawlspace. These walls, located between the floor framing and the foundation, require plywood bracing to prevent crippling. Additionally, these homes will need more hardware than a bolt-only retrofit, including hold-downs, shear transfer ties, and bolts.
EBB Grant funding
EBB retrofit grants are funded by either the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once you've been accepted into EBB, your Homeowner Dashboard will indicate which program funds your grant.Each funding source has different requirements for exterior photos of your house. You will upload these images directly to EBB via your Homeowner Dashboard, where specific instructions for the photos will be provided.
**CRMP-Funded Program:**Before the retrofit begins, we must provide three photos of the exterior of your house: one of the front and one of each side. All pre-retrofit photos and documents will be reviewed by EBB. You will have nine months from your acceptance date to complete the retrofit.
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**FEMA-Funded Program:**You must provide EBB with five date-stamped photos of the exterior of your house, taken before the retrofit begins. These photos, along with your registration, will be forwarded to FEMA for review. After receiving approval from FEMA (which typically takes four to ten weeks), EBB will notify you that we can begin your retrofit. We will then have six months to complete the work. After the retrofit is completed, an additional five date-stamped photos of the exterior must be submitted.
**Available Grants:**Up to $3,000 is funded through a FEMA grant. For eligible Supplemental Grant recipients, CRMP funds the remaining balance of the retrofit cost, up to the cap amount for that retrofit.​
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**EBB Supplemental Grant Program (SG):**A Supplemental Grant may be available to help income-eligible households pay up to 100 percent of their home retrofit costs. An "income-eligible household" is defined as having an annual income at or below $89,040. Ineligibility for or withdrawal from the SG does not prevent a Participating Homeowner from receiving an EBB grant of up to $3,000 for an eligible code-compliant seismic retrofit. Participating Homeowners eligible for an SG may submit for reimbursement of one (1) contractor bid/estimate up to $250 and the full cost of the permit at the time those costs are incurred.
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At Calseismic Construction, we are trusted experts in Earthquake Brace and Bolt (EBB) projects. We manage the entire EBB process for homeowners, from start to finish, including uploading all required pictures and documents. This ensures a seamless and convenient experience, the highest quality of work, and prompt receipt of grant funds upon project completion.
Please note that Calseismic Construction Inc. is not employed by the CEA and is not responsible for assessing the amount of grant funding homeowners may receive. Homeowners are solely responsible for confirming and planning around the means of their grant funding.
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