Earthquake Retrofit Grants: Brace + Bolt on the Central Coast

What a brace-and-bolt retrofit does

“In an Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit, the foundation is ‘bolted’ to the frame of the house, and when there are walls called ‘cripple walls’ in the crawl space under the house, they are ‘braced’ with plywood. This helps prevent the house from sliding or toppling off of its foundation during an earthquake” (CRMP).

It’s for a specific kind of house: “An EBB seismic retrofit is only done on wood-framed, pre-1980 homes with a raised foundation.” The work “must be done in compliance with California Existing Building Code (CEBC), Chapter A3” (same page). A house on a concrete slab isn’t a candidate.

The Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant

The program is run by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP), a joint powers authority of the California Earthquake Authority and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (EBB rules).

Grant: “Qualified homeowners can receive a grant of up to $3,000 toward a building code-compliant earthquake retrofit” (CRMP).
Extra help: a supplemental grant is available to homeowners under an income limit, “as funding permits” (CRMP). The amount depends on the region and the type of retrofit (CRMP supplemental grant).
The house: built before 1980, wood-framed, on a raised foundation or crawl space, on level ground or a slight slope, and not already retrofitted (CRMP).
Owner-occupied: the rules cover “Owner-occupied houses in Program ZIP Codes.” Rentals were eligible once, in 2025, and the rules say “Non-owner-occupied properties may not be eligible in future registration periods” (EBB rules).

Does the Central Coast qualify?

Yes, many ZIP codes do. CRMP’s 2025 list includes San Luis Obispo “93401, 93402, 93405,” Santa Maria “93454, 93455, 93458” and Santa Barbara ZIP codes (CRMP ZIP list), and CRMP’s ZIP search still listed them as program areas when we checked on September 27, 2026. Enter your own ZIP code in CRMP’s ZIP search to be sure; the list goes by ZIP code, not city name.

When you can apply

Registration was closed when we checked on September 27, 2026, and CRMP had not announced the next window. “For each program, registration is typically offered annually or as funding is available” (CRMP). Homeowners who register are chosen at random after registration closes, and “No incomplete, early, or late registrations will be considered” (EBB rules). Check the How to Register page for the next window.

Don’t start early

To stay eligible, “you must not begin construction work or obtain a permit before you are accepted into the EBB program” (CRMP). If you’re planning a retrofit and want the grant, wait until you’re accepted.

Who can do the work

The rules require the retrofit “to be done by a California Licensed General Building Contractor (License Type A or B: NOTE: License B-2 is not eligible to do retrofit work) listed in the EBB Contractor Directory or by an owner-builder” (EBB rules). Work by a contractor who isn’t in the directory won’t qualify for the payment. Look contractors up in CRMP’s directory and check their license with CSLB.

The earthquake insurance discount

A retrofit can also lower an earthquake insurance premium. The California Earthquake Authority says “you may be eligible to receive up to a 25% discount on your CEA earthquake insurance premium if your house meets select criteria and has been seismically retrofitted in accordance with California standards.” If the retrofit was done through the program, you give your insurer “a valid Brace + Bolt verification number” on CEA’s form (CEA).

Without the grant

A brace-and-bolt retrofit can be done at any time without the grant; ask your city or county building department about the permit. Whether your house would benefit depends on how its foundation and crawl space are built, which a licensed contractor or engineer can assess on site.

Earthquake retrofits and the Brace + Bolt grant