Section 8 in Bakersfield, CA, CA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area. FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,132 | $1,019 to $1,245 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,140 | $1,026 to $1,254 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,483 | $1,335 to $1,631 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,062 | $1,856 to $2,268 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,488 | $2,239 to $2,737 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Bakersfield covers up to $1,483 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,335 to $1,631.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.
Housing authorities serving Bakersfield
1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Bakersfield , CA · CA008 · 4,524 HCV units
6616318500
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Bakersfield, CA?
No. California law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Bakersfield, CA. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
California FEHA source-of-income protection (SB 329 / Gov. Code 12955)
Statewide: landlords may not refuse Section 8/HCV vouchers as a source of income.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Bakersfield metro
County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Bakersfield?
- In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,483 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,335 to $1,631 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
- What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Bakersfield?
- HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,132, 1-bedroom $1,140, 2-bedroom $1,483, 3-bedroom $2,062, 4-bedroom $2,488. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Bakersfield?
- Section 8 in Bakersfield is administered by Housing Authority of the County of Kern. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.
Find Section 8 apartments in Bakersfield
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.
Other Section 8 markets in CA
Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.