Planning a Northridge remodel? Know what actually triggers foundation work.

Get the free Northridge Remodel Seismic & Foundation Checklist. A one-page guide to whether your remodel really pulls structural work onto the permit, whether your lot sits in a designated Hillside Area, and whether your home is a good candidate for a voluntary brace-and-bolt.

Hi, I am Lior Mazor. I run Hillstar Construction, and I build and remodel homes in the San Fernando Valley, including all over Northridge.

There is a scary rumor going around: that once a remodel crosses some dollar amount, the City forces you to bring the whole house up to today's earthquake code. For a normal Northridge home on a normal flat lot, that rule does not exist. I put the honest version onto a single page so you can plan your project without the myth.

What is on it:

• How to check whether your lot is in a City-designated Hillside Area, using the free ZIMAS lookup
• Whether your remodel scope actually touches structure or foundation, in plain English
• Whether your home is a pre-1980 raised-foundation candidate for a voluntary brace-and-bolt
• The state Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program and where its grant lives
• The exact questions to ask your contractor before you sign

It is free, it is written for homeowners rather than for contractors, and it is short enough to actually use.