Earthquake Brace + Bolt Grant: Walnut Creek Area Guide

01Eligibility

Does your house fit? The Brace + Bolt checklist

Program checklist

Wood-framed house built before 1980
Raised foundation with a crawlspace (not a slab)
Cripple walls, if present, within the program's height limit. CRMP's standard plan covers cripple walls 4 feet or shorter; check the current program rules if yours are taller
A house with a tall concrete stem wall and no cripple walls can qualify for a bolt-only retrofit
The house is in a ZIP code on CRMP's current eligible list
You register during the open window and are selected in the random draw
The work is done to California Existing Building Code Chapter A3, with a building permit

Two retrofit types are funded: Brace and Bolt for houses with cripple walls and Bolt-Only for houses on stem walls (CRMP). The program's rules can change each year; confirm details on CRMP's site before registering.

02ZIP codes

Walnut Creek–area ZIP codes on the 2025 list

Community	ZIP codes	Status
Walnut Creek	94595, 94596, 94597, 94598	On the 2025 Northern California list
Concord	94518, 94519, 94520, 94521, 94523	On the 2025 list
Danville (Blackhawk shares 94506)	94506, 94526	On the 2025 list
Orinda	94563	On the 2025 list
Lafayette, Moraga, Clayton, Alamo	94549, 94556, 94517, 94507	Check your exact ZIP with CRMP's eligibility lookup

ZIP lists are set for each registration period. Confirm your address with CRMP's own lookup when registration opens.

03How it works

How Brace + Bolt works, step by step

Register on CRMP's website while registration is open. As of October 4, 2026, 2026 dates had not been announced.
Selection is by random draw. Selected homeowners are notified and given a deadline to proceed.
Choose a contractor from CRMP's directory: a California-licensed general contractor with an A or B license who has completed the program training (CRMP FAQ).
Permit and retrofit. The contractor pulls a building permit and does the work to Chapter A3. A typical EBB retrofit costs $3,000–$7,000+.
Final inspection and documents. After the permit is finaled, you submit the required paperwork and the grant is paid toward the cost.

04Not selected?

If your house isn't selected

A retrofit doesn't have to wait for the draw. The same Chapter A3 bolt-and-brace work can be permitted and done any time, and a qualifying retrofit can still earn a California Earthquake Authority premium discount (CEA). Many owners also get a quote now so they are ready if selected next year. See how a retrofit works and whether it is worth it.

05Questions

Brace + Bolt questions

How much does Earthquake Brace + Bolt pay?

Up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant retrofit. Income-eligible households (income at or below $94,480) can receive supplemental grants of up to $7,000, which "may pay up to 100 percent of the cost of the retrofit as long as funds are available" (CRMP FAQ).

When does Brace + Bolt registration open in 2026?

CRMP says registration "is open for a limited time each year." As of October 4, 2026, no 2026 registration dates had been published. Watch CRMP's site or sign up for its notifications; dates on this page will change only when CRMP announces them.

Can I choose any contractor?

The contractor must be a California-licensed general contractor with an A or B license (CRMP FAQ) and listed in CRMP's contractor directory after completing the program's training. Owner-builders can participate, but the value of your own labor is not a recoverable cost.

What if my house is not selected?

You can still retrofit on your own with a permit, and the work can still count toward an earthquake insurance discount. You can also watch for the next registration period.

Is this site part of the Brace + Bolt program?

No. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with CRMP, the California Earthquake Authority or any city. Apply only through CRMP's official website.

Sources · read October 4, 2026