Seismic Retrofitting Program for Soft-Story Multi-Unit Housing
The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) strengthens multi-unit residential structures that have a soft, weak, or open front (SWOF) seismic deficiency such as tuck-under parking or open space on the ground floor. Building owners will be able to apply for EMR grants if the building:
- Is located in a program-eligible city that has a mandatory, multi-unit residential soft-story retrofit ordinance,
- Is multi-story, wood-framed, and built before 1991,
- Has 5–10 units,
- Has “tuck-under” parking on the ground floor beneath the living area, and
- The building owner has received a notice and order to retrofit from their city, and
- The retrofit is a full ground-floor retrofit in accordance with FEMA P-807, IEBC Chapter A4 (latest edition), or ASCE 41 (latest edition); a line-only retrofit does not qualify for this program. See Program Rules for full details.
Read the full EMR Program Rules
Registration Coming August 2026.
Sign Up to be Notified When Registration Opens
EMR-Eligible Cities in California
Northern California
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Southern California
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Note: Additional cities may be added as mandatory ordinances are adopted.
Soft-Story Vulnerability
A building with tuck-under parking or similar open space on the ground floor, beneath the living area, is also called a “soft-story” building. Soft-story buildings are vulnerable to earthquakes because the parking area is an open space with few supports, which can collapse during an earthquake, causing the upper floors to pancake down on top of the parking area. This can result in widespread damage and loss of life, as was the case with the Northridge Meadows apartment collapse in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (M6.7).
The good news is that these soft-story buildings can be retrofitted to strengthen the ground-floor parking or open area, making the building better able to withstand earthquake shaking. The EMR program will provide grant funding to help qualified building owners retrofit their buildings and address this vulnerability.
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Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) Program
A. The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) Program provides retrofit funding for eligible property owners of multi-unit residential buildings that have a soft, weak, or open front (SWOF) seismic deficiency such as tuck-under parking or open space on the ground floor. The building must have 5-10 units and be located in a city that has adopted a mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinance.
A. EMR offers an incentive payment of:
- Up to 70% of engineering and permit fees, not to exceed $7,000, for pre-retrofit engineering consultant fees for the preparation of calculations and construction documents. Only engineering work done following the formal acceptance into the EMR program from CRMP qualifies for an incentive payment; and
- Up to 70% of the retrofit cost, not to exceed $4,260 per unit, for a seismic retrofit done in accordance with the requirements of these Program Rules.
Grant Funding Thresholds
| # of Building Units | Incentive Amount (Inclusive of Engineering Costs) |
|---|---|
| 5 units | Up to $21,300 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
| 6 units | Up to $25,560 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
| 7 units | Up to $29,820 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
| 8 units | Up to $34,080 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
| 9 units | Up to $38,340 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
| 10 units | Up to $42,600 + $7,000 in engineering costs |
A. Eligible buildings are generally wood-framed, multi-story residential buildings built before 1991 that contain 5–10 units, have tuck-under parking, and are located in an EMR- participating city.
A. “Soft Story” is a term used for buildings with a soft, weak, or open-front condition. Soft-story buildings are multi-story, wood-frame buildings in which the ground floor may have large exterior openings and/or a lack of interior walls. Soft-story buildings typically have tuck-under parking spaces/garages or commercial storefront on the ground floor, leading to a relatively weak lateral load resisting system in the lower story, which makes the building potentially vulnerable to collapse in the event of an earthquake.
A. No. Grants cover a percentage of eligible costs and are subject to maximum funding limits.
A. The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) administers the EMR Program.
A. Yes. EMR funding is intended for buildings subject to mandatory local retrofit ordinances.
A. One of the main qualification requirements is that the building owner has received a notice and order to retrofit the building in accordance with the local mandatory multi-unit soft-story retrofit ordinance. If you are not sure whether your building qualifies, contact your city building department to confirm that your building is on the inventory list for mandatory multi-unit soft-story retrofits.
A. No. Registration does not guarantee funding. Funding availability and program eligibility requirements apply.
A. You will need the following information:
- Applicant name • Property address
- Ownership information
- Qualifying questions
A. Yes, for a multi-unit building, you will need a licensed design professional (engineer). Because multi-unit structures are larger and heavier, building departments require engineered plans stamped by a professional to issue construction and permit approvals. The engineer will be an employee of the construction company.
A. Permits and engineering calculations and construction documents obtained prior to formal acceptance into the EMR Program will not be eligible for reimbursement with EMR incentive payments, but do not disqualify you from participation in the EMR Program.
A. Retrofit construction work started (whether or not completed), before the CRMP approval will make the project ineligible for an EMR incentive payment.
A. Buildings that were approved or have done a Line-Only Retrofit that introduced new bracing only at the open-front wall line qualify for EMR if:
- the building meets all the other requirements for EMR Eligible Applicants and Qualifying Buildings;
- the Line-Only Retrofit was completed in order to meet the requirements of a local mandatory soft-story ordinance; and
- a building permit from their local building official for the Line-Only Retrofit received final sign-off from the city.
Note: New work on buildings with completed Line-Only Retrofit may not begin before CRMP provides approval for construction to commence, pursuant to FEMA policies.
A. Your building would still be eligible for the EMR Program if all other program requirements are met.