San Luis Obispo County, CA: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$2,7202-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$2,0791-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$122,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$129,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in San Luis Obispo County is $2,720 a month, up 1.8% from $2,671 in FY2026. San Luis Obispo County belongs to the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA MSA FMR area, so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in San Luis Obispo County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,894	$1,842	+2.8%	$1,705 – $2,083
1 bedroom	$2,079	$2,036	+2.1%	$1,872 – $2,286
2 bedrooms	$2,720	$2,671	+1.8%	$2,448 – $2,992
3 bedrooms	$3,634	$3,584	+1.4%	$3,271 – $3,997
4 bedrooms	$4,208	$4,105	+2.5%	$3,788 – $4,628

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in San Luis Obispo County that is typically $2,448 to $2,992 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

California has a statewide cap on rent increases. 5% plus regional inflation, never more than 10% in 12 months. For increases from Aug 1, 2026: 8.1% to 8.8% depending on the county. Calculate the maximum increase for California →

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$65,806median income of renter households

$1,992Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

58%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $65,806 can afford about $1,645 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,720 is $1,075 (65.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $108,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $97,920 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

San Luis Obispo County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,992 ±$45
Median income of renter households	$65,806 ±$3,300
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.6% ±2.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	30.6% ±2.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	38,980

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,476	$1,992	+35.0%
Median renter household income	$51,554	$65,806	+27.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	54.3%	57.6%	+3.3 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $2,190 to $3,720 depending on the ZIP code.

All 41 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
93252	$1,710	$1,950	$2,190	$2,920	$3,320
93254	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93401	$2,140	$2,350	$3,070	$4,100	$4,750
93402	$1,910	$2,090	$2,740	$3,660	$4,240
93403	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93405	$1,960	$2,160	$2,820	$3,770	$4,360
93406	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93407	$1,960	$2,160	$2,820	$3,770	$4,360
93408	$1,960	$2,160	$2,820	$3,770	$4,360
93409	$1,960	$2,160	$2,820	$3,770	$4,360
93410	$1,960	$2,160	$2,820	$3,770	$4,360
93412	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93420	$2,060	$2,260	$2,960	$3,960	$4,580
93421	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93422	$1,820	$2,000	$2,610	$3,490	$4,040
93423	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93424	$1,970	$2,170	$2,830	$3,780	$4,380
93426	$1,970	$2,020	$2,430	$3,270	$3,700
93428	$1,870	$2,050	$2,680	$3,580	$4,150
93430	$1,660	$1,840	$2,410	$3,230	$3,700
93432	$1,970	$2,170	$2,840	$3,790	$4,390
93433	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93434	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93435	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93442	$1,800	$1,970	$2,580	$3,450	$3,990
93443	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93444	$2,010	$2,210	$2,890	$3,860	$4,470
93445	$1,660	$1,840	$2,410	$3,230	$3,700
93446	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93447	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93448	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93449	$2,240	$2,460	$3,220	$4,300	$4,980
93451	$1,970	$2,020	$2,590	$3,450	$3,960
93452	$1,660	$1,840	$2,410	$3,230	$3,700
93453	$1,860	$2,040	$2,670	$3,570	$4,130
93454	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93458	$2,310	$2,520	$2,890	$3,710	$4,240
93461	$1,720	$1,890	$2,470	$3,300	$3,820
93465	$2,590	$2,840	$3,720	$4,970	$5,750
93475	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210
93483	$1,890	$2,080	$2,720	$3,630	$4,210

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for San Luis Obispo County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $129,600 (FY2025: $120,900, +7.2%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$32,100 +9.9%	$36,700 +9.9%	$41,300 +10.0%	$45,850 +10.0%	$49,550 +10.0%	$53,200 +9.9%	$56,900 +10.0%	$60,550 +10.0%
Very low income (50%)	$53,500 +10.0%	$61,150 +10.0%	$68,800 +10.0%	$76,450 +10.0%	$82,550 +10.0%	$88,700 +10.0%	$94,800 +10.0%	$100,900 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$85,700 +9.9%	$97,950 +10.0%	$110,200 +10.0%	$122,400 +10.0%	$132,200 +9.9%	$142,000 +9.9%	$151,800 +10.0%	$161,600 +10.0%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.