Earthquake Brace & Bolt Grant Program Opens for 2025 Applications – Now Expanded to Rental Properties
September 4, 2025 - The California Department of Insurance is proud to partner with the California Earthquake Authority to raise awareness about the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) Program, which is once again offering grants to help Californians strengthen older homes against earthquake damage.
Starting August 20 through October 1, 2025, homeowners across more than 1,100 eligible ZIP Codes can apply for grants of up to $3,000 to complete a seismic retrofit. These upgrades help secure wood-framed houses built before 1980 with raised foundations, making them more resistant to earthquake shaking.
For the first time, the program is expanding eligibility to include rental and other non-owner-occupied properties—giving landlords and property owners the chance to safeguard more California homes and protect the residents who live in them.
Additional support is available for income-eligible households earning $89,040 or less per year, with up to $7,000 in supplemental grants to cover most or even all retrofit costs.
Since its launch in 2013, the EBB Program has provided more than 32,500 California homeowners with retrofit assistance, making communities stronger and more resilient in the face of earthquakes. More than $20 million in funding will be available for this application period.
How to Register:
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Registration runs from August 20 to October 1, 2025
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Visit EarthquakeBraceBolt.com
- Find detailed program information, a list of eligible ZIP Codes, and resources to select a trained, licensed contractor
By expanding eligibility to include rental properties, this program is helping ensure more Californians—homeowners, renters, and communities alike—are better protected when the next earthquake strikes.
About Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB)
Established by the California Residential Mitigation Program, EBB offers up to $3,000 to help California homeowners retrofit their house to reduce potential damage from earthquakes. A residential seismic retrofit makes a house more resistant to earthquake activity, such as ground shaking and soil failure, by bolting the house to its foundation and adding bracing around the perimeter of the crawl space. For more information, please visit: EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.
About the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP)
CRMP was established in 2011 to help Californians strengthen their homes against damage from earthquakes. CRMP is a joint powers authority created by the California Earthquake Authority and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. For more information, please visit crmp.org.
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
