Combining a Remodel With a Seismic Retrofit in the Bay Area

By ProRock Remodeling · CSLB #1154078 · Updated October 8, 2026

Why pair a seismic retrofit with a remodel?

Many Bay Area houses built before 1980 sit on a raised foundation with a short crawl space. In a strong earthquake, two weak spots tend to show up: the house can slide off its foundation if it isn't bolted down, and short "cripple walls" in the crawl space can fold over if they aren't braced. A retrofit adds anchor bolts and plywood bracing.

If you're already planning a kitchen or bath remodel, permits and inspections are in motion anyway, so it's a good time to look under the floor. Your house has handled decades of Karl the Fog; a little steel and plywood helps it handle the shaking too.

What is the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program?

Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) is run by the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP). It offers up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant brace-and-bolt retrofit. Income-eligible households can also apply for a Supplemental Grant that, according to CRMP, may pay up to 100% of the retrofit cost while funds last. Check CRMP's site for the current income limit.

Under the program rules, a house typically qualifies if it is:

• Built before 1980, wood-framed, with a continuous raised-perimeter foundation
• A detached building of one to four units, on level ground or a low slope
• The owner's primary residence (rentals were eligible only in a one-time 2025 window)
• In one of the program's designated ZIP codes

Slab-on-grade homes, including many Eichlers, are not candidates for this retrofit.

Is my Bay Area ZIP code eligible, and when can I register?

EBB is offered only in high-hazard ZIP codes, more than 1,100 statewide as of January 2025. CRMP's 2025 Northern California list includes ZIP codes in Bay Area cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Milpitas, but eligibility is by ZIP code, not by city. Check yours with the ZIP search on crmp.org.

Registration opens for a limited time each year. In 2025, a fall window opened August 20 and was extended to October 17. CRMP had not posted 2026 dates when we checked, so join its notification list and register early. Grants are first-come, first-served.

Bolting, bracing and cripple walls: what does the work involve?

How do the EBB rules affect my remodel schedule?

Under the current EBB rules:

• Don't start early. Work begun before CRMP approval makes the retrofit ineligible for payment.
• Use a listed contractor. The contractor must be a licensed California general contractor on the EBB Contractor Directory.
• Get a separate permit. The building permit must be issued after you're accepted and must cover only the seismic work. Your kitchen or bath gets its own permit.
• Finish on time. The retrofit must be completed within 180 days of approval to start. The incentive is typically mailed within about four weeks of final approval.

See our San Jose permit guide for how remodel permits usually move.

What about San Francisco's soft-story program?

San Francisco's Mandatory Soft Story Retrofit Program, created in 2013, covers wood-frame buildings of three or more stories (or two stories over a basement or underfloor area) with five or more units and a permit application filed before January 1, 1978. It does not cover a typical single-family home. DBI says noncompliant buildings are placarded and issued notices of violation. Owners of small apartment buildings in the Richmond or the Mission should check DBI's soft-story list before planning unit remodels. More on city permits in our San Francisco remodel guide.

For single-family homes with living space over a garage, CRMP runs a separate Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS) grant program, offered in select ZIP codes.

Can a retrofit lower my earthquake insurance?

Yes, for many CEA policyholders. The California Earthquake Authority offers a hazard reduction discount of up to 25% for pre-1980, wood-framed, one-to-four unit homes on raised or other non-slab foundations, with cripple walls braced, the house anchored and the water heater secured.

To claim it, an inspection professional completes CEA's Dwelling Retrofit Verification form, which can use your EBB verification number. In San Francisco, DBI also notes that seismic retrofit work may be excluded from property tax reassessment if you file the exclusion form within 30 days of finishing.

Older homes can hide more than a missing bolt; see our guide to hidden issues in older Bay Area homes.

Working with ProRock in the Bay Area

ProRock Remodeling is a licensed general contractor (California CSLB #1154078) with more than 20 years in business, $1M general liability insurance and a 2-year workmanship warranty. We focus on kitchen and bathroom remodels, and also handle whole-home remodels, ADUs, design and permits, from San Jose to San Francisco. Call (408) 991-4744 or request a free estimate.