How many Section 8 vouchers are there in California?

HUD data shows about 365,566 Housing Choice Vouchers across the 25 California markets we track, administered by 96 housing authorities statewide.

How do I apply for Section 8 in California?

You apply to a local housing authority, not to the state or to HUD. Each of California's housing authorities runs its own waitlist and opens it on its own schedule, and applying is always free. Pick your metro or county on this page to see the housing authorities that serve it and their current waitlist status.

Section 8 Housing in California

365,566 active Housing Choice Vouchers across 25 markets. Rent limits, housing authorities, waitlist status, and voucher rights for every metro in California.

Markets covered

Active vouchers

365,566

314,916 occupied

Housing authorities

statewide

Voucher protection

Protected

California FEHA source-of-income protection (SB 329 / Gov. Code 12955)

Voucher-friendly listings in California

29 listings

View all 29 listings →

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in California?

No. California law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in California. 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.

Landlord and investor tools for California

RentalCalcs

Free calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.

California metro guides

In-depth, source-cited guides: waitlist status, voucher-friendly neighborhoods, and who to call if you are turned away.

Los Angeles, CA

pop. 12,799,100

5 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

Identify the Los Angeles agency and program before applying or comparing apartments. HACLA and LACDA publish separate schedules and serve different jurisdictions; a neighborhood or mailing-city label does not settle who

See Los Angeles waitlists →

Riverside, CA

pop. 4,688,053

3 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

Riverside and San Bernardino administer separate assistance programs. The general tenant-based lists are closed, while particular property opportunities require their own current notices, eligibility checks and applicati

See Riverside waitlists →

San Francisco, CA

pop. 4,566,961

5 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

Separate San Francisco Housing Authority applications from other Bay Area agencies and property-based opportunities. SFHA publishes citywide bedroom standards; a regional ZIP benchmark does not establish a household’s vo

See San Francisco waitlists →

San Diego, CA

pop. 3,269,973

6 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

San Diego city and county have separate voucher programs and closed general waiting lists. Existing applicants should maintain their records, while participants should use their own administrator’s move instructions and

See San Diego waitlists →

Sacramento, CA

pop. 2,420,608

3 tracked voucher lists; none confirmed open

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 →

All Section 8 markets in California

Sorted by active voucher count. Each metro page has HUD Fair Market Rent by bedroom, the housing authorities that administer vouchers there, and waitlist status.

Section 8 by county in California

County pages show the local voucher count, housing authorities, and metro rollup. Useful when you are looking at a specific address.

Section 8 in California: common questions

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in California?: No. California law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in California. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
How many Section 8 vouchers are there in California?: HUD data shows about 365,566 Housing Choice Vouchers across the 25 California markets we track, administered by 96 housing authorities statewide.
How do I apply for Section 8 in California?: You apply to a local housing authority, not to the state or to HUD. Each of California's housing authorities runs its own waitlist and opens it on its own schedule, and applying is always free. Pick your metro or county on this page to see the housing authorities that serve it and their current waitlist status.

Find Section 8 apartments in California

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.

Browse voucher-friendly listings in California List your unit free

Other states

Section 8 in Arkansas Section 8 in Arizona Section 8 in Colorado Section 8 in District of Columbia