Section 8 in Kern County, CA
4,524 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Kern County, 90% utilized. 1 housing authority serves this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Kern County (FY2027)
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,265 | $1,139 to $1,392 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,273 | $1,146 to $1,400 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,656 | $1,490 to $1,822 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,293 | $2,064 to $2,522 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,768 | $2,491 to $3,045 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Kern County is $1,656. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,490 to $1,822, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Kern County
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Kern County, CA rose from $1,483 in FY2026 to $1,656 in FY2027, a change of +$173 a month (+11.7%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,132 | $1,265 | +$133 (+11.7%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,140 | $1,273 | +$133 (+11.7%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,483 | $1,656 | +$173 (+11.7%) |
| 3-bedroom | $2,062 | $2,293 | +$231 (+11.2%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,488 | $2,768 | +$280 (+11.3%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Kern County? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Section 8 income limits in Kern County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Kern County that is $48,550 a year for a family of four, about $4,040 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $81,900.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $20,450 | $34,000 | $54,400 |
| 2 people | $23,350 | $38,850 | $62,200 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $43,700 | $69,950 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $48,550 | $77,700 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $52,450 | $83,950 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $56,350 | $90,150 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $60,250 | $96,350 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $64,100 | $102,600 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. Federal rules generally require at least 75% of admissions from the waiting list each year to be extremely low income families. This does not predict selection or waiting time. For a family of four here, that threshold is $33,000 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the income limit is only one part of eligibility and does not guarantee admission.
Compare your household income with Section 8 limits and see how monthly income becomes an annual estimate.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Kern County?
No. California law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Kern County. 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.
Kern County in the Bakersfield metro
Kern County is one of the counties inside the Bakersfield, CA core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Bakersfield metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Landlord and investor tools for Kern County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Kern County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for California ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in CaliforniaExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in CaliforniaMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
Housing authorities serving Kern County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. Confirm the administering agency on your voucher and whether it can serve the proposed address; a ZIP code alone does not settle jurisdiction or portability.
Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Bakersfield · PHA code CA008
4,524 Section 8 units
Section 8 rent by ZIP in Kern County
Kern County is in a Small Area FMR metro, so HUD publishes a separate rent limit for each ZIP (FY2027). The 2-bedroom figure is shown; each ZIP page has the full bedroom table.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Kern County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Kern County, CA is $34,000 for one person, $38,850 for two, $43,700 for three and $48,550 for a family of four. Limits vary by household size. The agency also checks other eligibility requirements and any applicable exceptions.
- What counts as extremely low income in Kern County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Kern County is $20,450 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. Housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to families at or below this level.
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Kern County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kern County is $1,656 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $1,490 to $1,822. This is not a household rent limit. ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ; ask your agency for its adopted standard and the unit's utility allowance.
- Who runs Section 8 in Kern County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Kern County are administered by Housing Authority of the County of Kern. Each authority keeps its own waiting lists and eligibility preferences. Check each official application notice; applying to one agency does not apply to the others.
Find Section 8 apartments in Kern County
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Nearby California counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 906,883 · FIPS 06029.