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Income Limits (Section 8)

Section 8 assistance is available only to U.S. citizens, non-citizens with legal immigration status, and "mixed families" (families in which at least one, but not all members have eligible immigration status). Assistance to mixed families will be prorated. The same program rules and regulations for determining eligibility status for Section 8 rental assistance apply to everyone.

To be eligible, the household must be either a family or a single person whose income does not exceed the area limits as set by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD establishes annual income limits by family size as:

  • Extremely Low Income = Income does not exceed the higher of the federal poverty level or 30% of area median income
  • Very Low Income = 50% of area median income
  • Low Income = 80% of area median income.
     

HUD's income limits for the County of Santa Barbara are in the table below.

FY 2021 Income Limit Area
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA
Median Family Income $90,100


Very Low (50%) Income Limits

  • 1 Person in Family $43,750
  • 2 Persons in Family $50,000
  • 3 Persons in Family $56,250
  • 4 Persons in Family $62,450
  • 5 Persons in Family $67,450
  • 6 Persons in Family $72,450
  • 7 Persons in Family $77,450
  • 8 Persons in Family $82,450

Extremely Low Income Limits

  • 1 Person in Family $26,250
  • 2 Persons in Family $30,000
  • 3 Persons in Family $33,750
  • 4 Persons in Family $37.450
  • 5 Persons in Family $40,450
  • 6 Persons in Family $43,450
  • 7 Persons in Family $46,450
  • 8 Persons in Family $49,450

Low (80%) Income Limits

  • 1 Person in Family $70,050
  • 2 Persons in Family $80,050
  • 3 Persons in Family $90,050
  • 4 Persons in Family $100,050
  • 5 Persons in Family $108,100
  • 6 Persons in Family $116,100
  • 7 Persons in Family $124,100
  • 8 Persons in Family $132,100