Section 8 Housing in California
Waitlist status and voucher tenant resources across 5 metros in California. Every fact source-cited.
5
Metros covered
22
PHAs across state
2
Waitlists open / lottery
Protected
Statewide voucher rights
Can California landlords legally refuse Section 8?
ProtectedCalifornia SB 329 (2020) makes SOI discrimination illegal statewide. Vouchers, veterans benefits, SSI all covered.
California Metros
Los Angeles, CA
pop. 12,799,1005 PHAs — all waitlists currently closed
In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro, nearly every major Section 8 waitlist is closed. HACLA (City of LA), LACDA (LA County), Long Beach, Anaheim, and Orange County all have closed Housing Choice Voucher lists, an
See Los Angeles waitlists →
Riverside, CA
pop. 4,688,0533 PHAs — all waitlists currently closed
In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro, both major public housing agencies keep their Section 8 (tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher) waitlists closed most of the time, opening only briefly by lottery or limited w
See Riverside waitlists →
San Francisco, CA
pop. 4,566,9615 PHAs — all waitlists currently closed
In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro, every major Section 8 waitlist is currently closed. The biggest recent opening was the Oakland Housing Authority lottery in January 2025, its first since 2011, which drew over
See San Francisco waitlists →
San Diego, CA
pop. 3,269,9732 of 6 PHAs accepting applicants
Section 8 in the San Diego metro is effectively locked down for new applicants as of 2026. The two largest programs, the San Diego Housing Commission (city) and the Housing Authority of the County of San Diego, both clos
See San Diego waitlists →
Sacramento, CA
pop. 2,420,6083 PHAs — all waitlists currently closed
In the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro, the main voucher program is run by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), which serves the City and County of Sacramento and has its tenant-based Section 8 waitl
See Sacramento waitlists →