Santa Barbara 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).

$3,1062-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$2,7111-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$145,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$118,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Santa Barbara County is $3,106 a month, down 0.6% from $3,124 in FY2026. Santa Barbara County belongs to the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$2,479	$2,459	+0.8%	$2,232 – $2,726
1 bedroom	$2,711	$2,746	−1.3%	$2,440 – $2,982
2 bedrooms	$3,106	$3,124	−0.6%	$2,796 – $3,416
3 bedrooms	$3,990	$4,075	−2.1%	$3,591 – $4,389
4 bedrooms	$4,557	$4,647	−1.9%	$4,102 – $5,012

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 Santa Barbara County that is typically $2,796 to $3,416 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?

$70,675median income of renter households

$2,131Median 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 $70,675 can afford about $1,767 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $3,106 is $1,339 (75.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $124,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $111,816 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Santa Barbara County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$2,131 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$70,675 ±$2,599
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.7% ±1.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	31.6% ±1.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	67,610

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,643	$2,131	+29.7%
Median renter household income	$53,502	$70,675	+32.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	56.8%	57.7%	+0.9 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 $4,360 depending on the ZIP code.

All 41 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
93013	$2,730	$2,990	$3,430	$4,400	$5,030
93014	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93067	$2,730	$2,990	$3,430	$4,460	$5,030
93101	$3,070	$3,360	$3,850	$4,950	$5,650
93102	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93103	$2,890	$3,160	$3,620	$4,650	$5,310
93105	$2,900	$3,170	$3,630	$4,660	$5,330
93106	$2,680	$2,930	$3,360	$4,320	$4,930
93108	$2,900	$3,270	$3,690	$4,870	$5,430
93109	$3,480	$3,810	$4,360	$5,600	$6,400
93110	$2,830	$3,090	$3,540	$4,550	$5,190
93111	$3,370	$3,680	$4,220	$5,420	$6,190
93116	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93117	$2,680	$2,930	$3,360	$4,320	$4,930
93118	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93120	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93121	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93130	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93140	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93150	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93160	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93190	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93199	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93252	$1,710	$1,950	$2,190	$2,920	$3,320
93254	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93427	$2,590	$2,840	$3,250	$4,180	$4,770
93429	$2,750	$3,020	$3,450	$4,430	$5,060
93434	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93436	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93437	$2,970	$3,250	$3,720	$4,780	$5,460
93438	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93440	$2,380	$2,610	$2,980	$3,840	$4,380
93441	$2,840	$3,110	$3,560	$4,570	$5,220
93454	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93455	$2,720	$2,980	$3,410	$4,380	$5,000
93456	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93457	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560
93458	$2,310	$2,520	$2,890	$3,710	$4,240
93460	$3,340	$3,650	$4,180	$5,370	$6,130
93463	$2,220	$2,480	$2,820	$3,670	$4,190
93464	$2,480	$2,710	$3,110	$4,000	$4,560

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

HUD income limits for Santa Barbara County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $118,600 (FY2025: $113,300, +4.7%). 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%)	$38,300 +3.2%	$43,750 +3.2%	$49,200 +3.1%	$54,650 +3.2%	$59,050 +3.2%	$63,400 +3.2%	$67,800 +3.2%	$72,150 +3.2%
Very low income (50%)	$63,750 +3.2%	$72,850 +3.2%	$81,950 +3.1%	$91,050 +3.2%	$98,350 +3.1%	$105,650 +3.2%	$112,950 +3.2%	$120,200 +3.2%
Low income (80%)	$102,000 +3.2%	$116,600 +3.2%	$131,150 +3.2%	$145,700 +3.2%	$157,400 +3.2%	$169,050 +3.2%	$180,700 +3.2%	$192,350 +3.2%

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.