Section 8 in Bakersfield, CA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (CBSA 12540). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,132 | $1,019 – $1,245 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,140 | $1,026 – $1,254 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,483 | $1,335 – $1,631 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,062 | $1,856 – $2,268 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,488 | $2,239 – $2,737 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Bakersfield, CA covers up to $1,483 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,335–$1,631.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Bakersfield, CA
1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Bakersfield, CA · CA008 · 4,524 HCV units
Source-of-income law in CA
CA state law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to Section 8 voucher holders on the basis of their source of income.
FEHA (SB 329) · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Bakersfield, CA property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.