Program Rules Highlights

Homeowners and contractors participating in the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program are required to agree to and adhere to the full Program Rules and Terms of Use below.

Registration is now closed. 

Homeowner Guidelines

For homeowners, the program rules and terms include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Homeowner must be the owner of record and live in the house that will be retrofitted.
• The house must be located within one of the ZIP Codes designated by EBB.
• Only one registration per house.
• The house must meet the structural requirements of a Chapter A3 (pages 125 - 142) retrofit which is done completely in the crawl space around the perimeter of the foundation.
  1. For houses with cripple walls 4-feet or less, a contractor or homeowner may complete the retrofit using an approved standard plan set.
  2. For houses with cripple walls taller than 4-feet an engineered solution is required.
• The house must not have a completed brace and bolt retrofit previous to being accepted into EBB.
• The building permit must be received and dated after acceptance into EBB.
• The building permit must state the retrofit is in accordance with Chapter A3 or an accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1). If the retrofit is an engineered solution then the signed and stamped letter from the engineer must state the retrofit is in accordance with Chapter A3.
• In addition to the brace and bolt retrofit the work must include strapping and bracing the water heater.
• The homeowner must meet all program deadlines and submit the required documentation.
• If a homeowner chooses to do the project as an owner/builder, labor will not be reimbursed.
• The house must successfully pass a final inspection by a local building inspector, confirming the retrofit was done in accordance with Chapter A3.
• The retrofit may not receive any other grant funding from any other program.

Contractor Guidelines

For contractors, the program rules and terms include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Contractors must perform all EBB retrofit work in accordance with Chapter A3 or an accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1).
• All retrofit work is done completely in the crawl space around the perimeter of the foundation.
• Contractors must ensure that each and every building permit for an EBB retrofit includes the required references to Chapter A3 or an accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1).. (for a Type 1 Qualifying House) or the required references to engineered plans (for a Type 2 Qualifying House).
• To be listed in the EBB Contractor Directory, contractors must be licensed by the State of California and successfully complete the FEMA training.
• Contractors may be removed from the Directory in the event EBB determines that the Participating Contractor has failed to meet the program requirements.

Questions & Complete List of Program Rules 

For more information and the full list of Program Rules, please visit Earthquake Brace + Bolt or call Customer Service at (877) 232-4300.