EMR stands for Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit. It is a California grant program that helps owners of qualifying 5 to 10 unit buildings pay for a soft-story retrofit. Here is what it covers, what it does not, and how to prepare.
A building generally needs to meet all of the following:
If your building has fewer than five units or more than ten, EMR will not apply. That does not mean you are off the hook. Most participating cities have their own mandatory retrofit ordinances that apply regardless of unit count. See our soft-story retrofit page for what applies to buildings outside the EMR range.
| Item | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Construction cost | Up to 70 percent, capped at $4,260 per unit |
| Engineering and permit fees | Up to 70 percent, capped at $7,000 |
| Maximum per building | Roughly $49,600 at ten units |
The per-unit cap usually binds well before the 70 percent cap does. On a five-unit building the maximum grant works out to about $28,300 total. If the retrofit costs $90,000, the grant covers roughly a third. If it costs $180,000, it covers closer to a sixth. Plan your budget around the cap, not around the 70 percent figure.
EMR requires a full ground-floor retrofit. A line-only retrofit, meaning one that strengthens only the open front wall line, does not qualify.
The design must follow one of three recognized standards:
These are not interchangeable in terms of cost. The same building analyzed under different standards can require meaningfully different amounts of steel. When you compare contractor bids, ask which standard each engineer used. A lower bid sometimes reflects a different design basis rather than a better price.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| EMR registration opens | August 19, 2026 |
| San Jose ordinance screening deadline | October 1, 2027 |
| San Jose construction deadlines | 2029 through 2033, by building group |
Grant programs generally will not reimburse work that began before registration and approval. Confirm the current rule in the program guidelines before signing a construction contract or breaking ground. Getting this wrong can cost you the entire grant.
We bid these in two phases. A firm price for engineering first, then a firm construction price once the design is stamped and the actual scope is known.
Program details are set by the state and can change. Verify current requirements, amounts, and deadlines with the program administrator before making decisions. We keep this page current but the official program rules govern.
Buildings that already have a screening and a design in hand will move fastest. Send us your address and unit count and we will tell you where you stand.