Get reimbursed up to $3,000 for seismic upgrades to your home, or get the full cost covered if you meet income and program requirements.
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 statewide Earthquake Brace + Bolt rebate program by March 26 (the program was extended one month from Feb. 26 due to the Los Angeles County fires). Households with annual incomes below $89,040 can qualify for a grant which may cover 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.
Apply online for Earthquake Brace + Bolt
Phone: (877) 232-4300
Eligibility: owner-occupied single-family residences and small multifamily buildings (1-4 units) in Berkeley and other eligible zip codes
Berkeleyans have strengthened homes, gotten rebates
Since March 2016, more than 600 Berkeley homeowners have received Earthquake Brace + Bolt rebates, bringing over $2 million in grant 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 Earthquake Brace + Bolt rebates, homeowners in Berkeley have other resources to help pay for seismic improvements including the Earthquake Soft Story Program for single family homes, and the Retrofit Grants Program. Explore our Seismic Safety Information and Programs for additional resources.
Improve the safety of your home and apply online by March 26, 2025 for a chance at a $3,000 rebate—or more.
Links
- Earthquake Brace + Bolt (CA Residential Mitigation Program)
- Funding for Seismic Retrofits (City of Berkeley)
- Seismic Safety Information and Programs (City of Berkeley)
- Earthquake Preparedness (City of Berkeley)
- Seismic Retrofit Programs (CA Residential Mitigation Program)
Get trusted information about the City of Berkeley by bookmarking berkeleyca.gov, subscribing to our newsletter, and following us on Bluesky and Instagram.