section 8 rents
in california.
HUD Fair Market Rents across 2,407 California ZIP codes for FY2026. the median 2-bedroom runs $2,600/mo and the median 3-bedroom $3,300/mo — with 3-bedroom rents spanning $1,440 to $6,670/mo depending on the ZIP.
FMR by bedroom.
| bedrooms | median FMR / mo |
|---|---|
| studio / 0 BR | $1,860 |
| 1 BR | $2,080 |
| 2 BR | $2,600 |
| 3 BR | $3,300 |
| 4 BR | $3,670 |
3-bedroom FMR ranges from $1,440 to $6,670/mo across California ZIP codes — Small Area FMRs vary widely within a single metro.
where the rents are.
| metro / area | ZIPs | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale | 454 | $2,600 | $3,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 212 | $2,130 | $2,820 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 178 | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine | 145 | $3,240 | $4,400 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade | 116 | $2,220 | $2,960 |
| Oakland-Fremont | 110 | $2,920 | $3,730 |
| San Francisco | 107 | $3,480 | $4,450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 103 | $3,480 | $4,600 |
SAFMR = ZIP-level variation. HUD sets Small Area Fair Market Rents by ZIP in many of these metros, so two homes in the same city can carry very different voucher ceilings.
the DSCR math at california's median rent.
At the median 3-bedroom Section 8 rent of $3,300/mo, the maximum PITIA that still clears a 1.20 DSCR is $2,750/mo. Assuming ~25% of that payment goes to property taxes and insurance, the maximum principal & interest is $2,063/mo — which supports roughly a $310,000 loan at 7% over 30 years, or about a $413,000 purchase at 75% LTV.
Assumptions: 1.20 DSCR floor, ~25% of PITIA for taxes + insurance, 7.0% 30-year fixed, 75% LTV. Your taxes, insurance, rate, and LTV will differ — run your exact numbers in the DSCR calculator.
California Section 8, answered.
compare neighbors.
FMR on every california listing.
Verleon AI overlays HUD Fair Market Rents on every active listing in California — and all 50 states — so you see the Section 8 ceiling and DSCR before you make an offer. See the Section 8 investing guide or the FMR-by-state overview.
Data source: HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents (Small Area FMRs where published), snapshot 2026-07-14. Payment standards vary by public housing authority (typically 90–110% of FMR). Figures are for research and do not guarantee approved rent on any specific unit.