CEA BB Program Rules Highlights

This program is now closed. Policyholders, Contractors and Registered Design Professionals participating in the CEA Brace + Bolt (CEA BB) program are required to agree to and adhere to the full Program Rules and Terms of Use posted on the website.  

 For policyholders these include, but are not limited to:  

• Qualifying policyholders are policyholders that are invited to participate in the CEA BB program.

• The Participating Policyholder must have a valid CEA insurance policy for the qualifying house.

• Only one registration per house is allowed. 

• The Participating Policyholder must own a pre-1980 house which is rated as pre-1980 construction with a raised or “other” foundation in determining the CEA policy premium.
• The house must meet the structural requirements of a Chapter A3 retrofit which is done completely in the crawl space around the perimeter of the foundation.
• Houses that qualify must have a continuous perimeter foundation but may or may not have a cripple wall.   
  • For houses with cripple walls 4 feet or less, a contractor or policyholder may complete the retrofit using an approved standard plan set.
  • Houses with cripple walls taller than 4 feet but not taller than 7 feet, may still qualify but an engineered solution is required.
  • If a qualifying house does not have a cripple wall, a bolt only retrofit (connecting the wood framing of the first floor of a building to the stem wall, i.e. its concrete foundation) is required.  

• The house must not have a completed brace and bolt retrofit previous to being eligible to participate in CEA BB. 

• The building permit must be issued and dated after official acceptance into the CEA BB program. 

• The building permit must state the retrofit is in accordance with Chapter A3 or a accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1). If the retrofit is an engineered solution, then a signed and stamped letter from the engineer must state the retrofit is in accordance with CEBC Chapter A3. 
• No partial CEBC Chapter A3 retrofits are allowed.
• In addition to the brace and bolt retrofit, the work must include strapping and bracing the water heater.*
• The Participating Policyholder must meet all program deadlines and submit the required documentation.
• If a Participating Policyholder chooses to hire a contractor to do the CEA BB retrofit, the contractor must be a California licensed contractor (Type A or B license) and may be listed on the CEA BB Contractor Directory.
• If a Participating Policyholder chooses to do the project as an owner/builder, labor will not be reimbursed.
• The house must successfully pass a final inspection by a local building inspector, confirming the retrofit was done in accordance with Chapter A3.
• The retrofit may not receive any other grant funding from any other program.
• If the retrofit cost exceeds the $3,000 CEA BB incentive payment, the additional costs are the sole responsibility of the Participating Policyholder.
• Participating Policyholders are responsible for the payment of all taxes related to or arising from the incentive payments made under CEA BB.
• Participating Policyholders are advised to review local County Assessor’s or State Board of Equalization’s website regarding any pre-construction requirements concerning the seismic retrofitting construction exclusion from assessment provided by section 74.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. 

Contractors requirements include, but are not limited to: 

• They must perform all retrofit work in accordance with CEBC Chapter A3 or an accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1).
• All retrofit work is done completely in the crawl space around the perimeter of the foundation.
• They must ensure that each and every building permit for a qualifying retrofit includes the required references to CEBC Chapter A3 or an accepted Standard Plan Set (i.e. Standard Plan Set A or LA City Standard Plan Set #1) for a Type 1 Qualifying House or the required references to engineered plans for a Type 2 Qualifying House.
• To qualify to do a CEA BB retrofit and the work to be eligible for the incentive payment, the work must be done by an owner-builder or a general building contractor that is licensed by the State of California with a Type A or B license.
• They must not be barred by the State of California or the federal government from bidding on, accepting, or performing any State of California or federal-government- funded public works contracts, either as a contractor or subcontractor.  

Contractors may be removed from the Contractor Directory in the event CEA BB determines that the Participating Contractor has failed to meet the program requirements.

For Registered Design Professionals (engineers and architects) requirements include but are not limited to: 

• They must ensure all submissions (e.g., plans, designs, letters) completed for a CEA BB retrofit are in accordance with Chapter A3 of CEBC.
• They must not be barred by the State of California or the federal government from bidding on, accepting, or performing any State of California or federal government-funded public works contracts, either as a contractor or subcontractor. 
• They must demonstrate a commitment to work within the local jurisdiction’s building construction process.

Design Professionals may be removed from the Directory in the event CEA BB determines that the Design Professional has failed to meet the program requirements.

CEA BB has no obligation to maintain, keep current, or monitor licensing, financial condition, contracts, or competence of any Contractor or Design Professional listed on any directory or any other Contractor or Design Professional hired by a Participating Policyholder.  

*Resources for strapping and bracing your water heater: Earthquake Country Alliance