How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in ZIP 93243?

For ZIP 93243 in Kern County, CA, the FY2027 two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent is $2,110 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of this HUD benchmark is roughly $1,900 to $2,320. This modeled range is not the agency's adopted schedule. The agency calculates assistance using its applicable standard, household income and unit details; gross rent includes the allowance for tenant-paid utilities.

What are the FY2027 HUD rent benchmarks for ZIP 93243?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 93243, by bedroom size: studio $1,570, 1-bedroom $1,690, 2-bedroom $2,110, 3-bedroom $2,800, 4-bedroom $3,260. A ZIP benchmark helps compare locations but does not establish what a voucher pays. The administering agency's adopted schedule, program rules and household calculation determine assistance.

Which housing authority covers ZIP 93243?

Agencies listed for Kern County include Housing Authority of the County of Kern. This county directory does not establish jurisdiction for every address. Check the agency on your voucher or application and confirm who would administer assistance at the proposed unit.

Section 8 Rent in ZIP 93243

FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 93243 in Kern County, California: HUD rent benchmarks by bedroom size, an illustrative percentage range, the housing authorities that administer vouchers here, and whether a landlord can legally decline a voucher in California.

Studio

$1,570

1 BR

$1,690

2 BR

$2,110

3 BR

$2,800

4 BR

$3,260

What does the HUD rent benchmark measure in ZIP 93243?

HUD's Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents for standard-quality units occupied by recent movers. Small Area FMRs provide ZIP-level estimates. These are not arithmetic average asking rents or approved voucher payments. For FY2027, that benchmark is $1,690 for a one-bedroom and $2,110 for a two-bedroom in ZIP 93243. Actual asking rents and adopted agency payment standards can differ. The full HUD benchmark table is above.

What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in ZIP 93243

HUD's two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 93243 rose from $2,070 in FY2026 to $2,110 in FY2027, a change of +$40 a month (+1.9%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

Bedrooms	FY2026	FY2027	Change
Efficiency (studio)	$1,460	$1,570	+$110 (+7.5%)
1-bedroom	$1,630	$1,690	+$60 (+3.7%)
2-bedroom	$2,070	$2,110	+$40 (+1.9%)
3-bedroom	$2,650	$2,800	+$150 (+5.7%)
4-bedroom	$3,050	$3,260	+$210 (+6.9%)

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 ZIP 93243? 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 Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.

Illustration: 90% to 110% of the HUD benchmark (2 BR)

These percentages illustrate the basic payment-standard range, not a verified agency schedule. ZIP-based policies, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.

Low (90%)

$1,900

FMR (100%)

$2,110

High (110%)

$2,320

Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Ask your administering agency for the adopted standard and household affordability calculation; neither the HUD benchmark nor this illustration is a lease approval.

ZIP vs county FMR (2 BR)

ZIP 93243 at $2,110 is $454 higher than the Kern County county-wide 2 BR FMR of $1,656. This is a comparison of HUD benchmarks. It does not establish the agency's adopted standard or the assistance available to a particular household.

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in ZIP 93243?

No. California law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in ZIP 93243. 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.

Housing authorities serving Kern County

Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Bakersfield · PHA code CA008
4,524 Section 8 units

These agencies are listed for the county. Confirm jurisdiction for the exact address and, if you already have a voucher, which agency will administer the proposed move.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in ZIP 93243?: For ZIP 93243 in Kern County, CA, the FY2027 two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent is $2,110 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of this HUD benchmark is roughly $1,900 to $2,320. This modeled range is not the agency's adopted schedule. The agency calculates assistance using its applicable standard, household income and unit details; gross rent includes the allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
What are the FY2027 HUD rent benchmarks for ZIP 93243?: HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 93243, by bedroom size: studio $1,570, 1-bedroom $1,690, 2-bedroom $2,110, 3-bedroom $2,800, 4-bedroom $3,260. A ZIP benchmark helps compare locations but does not establish what a voucher pays. The administering agency's adopted schedule, program rules and household calculation determine assistance.
Which housing authority covers ZIP 93243?: Agencies listed for Kern County include Housing Authority of the County of Kern. This county directory does not establish jurisdiction for every address. Check the agency on your voucher or application and confirm who would administer assistance at the proposed unit.

Find Section 8 apartments in ZIP 93243

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 ZIP 93243 List your unit free

Kern County overview All of California

Landlord and investor tools for Kern County

RentalCalcs

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

SAFMR data published by HUD for FY2027. ZIP 93243 maps to Kern County, CA · FIPS 06029. Investors can run these numbers in the RentalCalcs voucher analyzer.