Apply by February 21 for seismic retrofit grants

Berkeley homeowners can qualify for up to $3,000 to make their foundations more resilient to earthquakes and those who meet low-income requirements can get reimbursed for the full cost of a seismic upgrade.  

To qualify for a lottery to get these refunds, Berkeley homeowners should sign up for the state's Earthquake Brace + Bolt rebate program by February 21. Households with annual incomes below $87,360 can qualify for up to 100 percent of the seismic retrofit cost. 

Bracing and bolting have a big impact in a community like Berkeley, where older homes may not have the seismic protections required of newer construction. 

Berkeleyans have strengthened homes, gotten rebates 

Since March 2016, 549 Berkeley homeowners have received Earthquake Brace + Bolt rebates, bringing over $1.6 million in state funding to Berkeley residents while increasing the resilience of our community. 

Incentives from the California Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program help pay for seismic upgrades to houses most vulnerable to severe damage—pre-1980, wood-framed homes with raised foundations that may have unbraced "cripple walls," the short wood-framed wall surrounding the crawl space under the first floor.  

In addition to the state's rebates, homeowners in Berkeley have other resources to pay for seismic improvements, including a transfer tax reduction program for seismic upgrades made within a year of purchase and Property Assessed Clean Energy financing.  

Explore our Seismic Safety Information and Programs for additional resources. 

Improve the safety of your home and apply by February 21, 2024 for a chance at a $3,000 rebate - or more. 

Links 

• Earthquake Brace + Bolt (State of California) 

• Funding for Seismic Retrofits (City of Berkeley) 

• Seismic Safety Information and Programs (City of Berkeley) 

• Earthquake Preparedness (City of Berkeley)