Get Up to $49,600 to Retrofit Your Building
The Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) Program helps eligible owners of 5–10 unit apartment buildings strengthen soft-story buildings and reduce earthquake risk.
- Up to $4,260 per unit
- Up to $7,000 for engineering and permits
- Funds up to 70% of eligible retrofit costs
Why Retrofit?
Reduce Earthquake Risk
Improve overall building stability and performance during earthquakes.
Protect Residents
Help keep tenants, employees, and the community safe.
Stay Compliant
Meet local mandatory retrofit requirements and avoid penalties.
Protect Your Investment
Preserve property value and reduce long-term costs.
Up to
$4,260
per unit
Including up to
$7,000
for engineering plans and permit costs
Funds up to 70% of eligible retrofit costs
Does Your Building Qualify?
- Located in a participating California city with a mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinance
- Multi-story, wood-framed building built before 1991
- 5–10 residential units
- Tuck-under ground-floor parking
- Received a city retrofit notice or order
- Requires a full ground-floor retrofit
- May still qualify even if you started—but never completed—the retrofit
Participating Cities
The EMR Program is currently available for eligible buildings located in:
Northern California
- Albany
- Berkeley
- Mill Valley
- Oakland
- San Francisco
- San Jose
Southern California
- Beverly Hills
- Burbank
- Culver City
- Los Angeles
- Pasadena
- Santa Monica
- Torrance
- West Hollywood
How the EMR Program Works
1 Check & Register
Confirm your building qualifies and register online from Aug. 19–Sept. 30 to be considered for funding.
2 Upload Documents
If accepted, upload ownership records, your city retrofit notice, plans, permits, bids, and required photos.
3 Complete Retrofit
After approval to begin, use an eligible contractor to complete the approved retrofit within the required timeline.
4 Receive Grant
Submit final invoices and completion documents to receive reimbursement for approved eligible costs.
Up to $49,600 May Be Available for Eligible Buildings
Register August 19 – September 30 to determine your eligibility. If approved, EMR grant funding may help reimburse eligible retrofit, engineering, and permit costs.
Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) Program FAQs
Have questions about the Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit (EMR) Program? Find answers to common questions about grant funding, building eligibility, soft-story retrofit requirements, registration, and the application process. Learn how the program works, whether your property may qualify, and what information you'll need to participate in this limited funding opportunity.
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
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