Section 8 in Kern County, CA
4,524 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Kern County, 90% utilized. 1 housing authority serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Kern County (FY2026)
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 Kern County 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.
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 →Housing authorities serving Kern County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. The PHA whose jurisdiction covers a unit's ZIP is the one both tenant and landlord will deal with.
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 (FY2026). The 2-bedroom figure is shown; each ZIP page has the full bedroom table.
Find Section 8 apartments in Kern County
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 California counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 906,883 · FIPS 06029.