This page covers Section 8 and other affordable-housing programs in Santa Barbara County, California. Everything below is drawn from federal HUD datasets, with the source and refresh date for each one shown at the bottom of the page.
Who administers housing assistance here
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program in Santa Barbara County is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, (805) 965-1071. Housing authorities — not landlords, and not this website — decide who is eligible, run the waiting lists and issue vouchers.
HUD identifies this authority by the code CA076. It reports 2,931 Housing Choice Voucher units and 0 public housing units in its portfolio.
FY2026 income limits for Santa Barbara County
HUD sets income limits by area rather than by city. This county sits in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA income-limit area, where the FY2026 area median family income is $118,600.
| Household size | Extremely low income (30%) | Very low income (50%) | Low income (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $38,300 | $63,750 | $102,000 |
| 2 people | $43,750 | $72,850 | $116,600 |
| 3 people | $49,200 | $81,950 | $131,150 |
| 4 people | $54,650 | $91,050 | $145,700 |
| 5 people | $59,050 | $98,350 | $157,400 |
| 6 people | $63,400 | $105,650 | $169,050 |
| 7 people | $67,800 | $112,950 | $180,700 |
| 8 people | $72,150 | $120,200 | $192,350 |
The very low income (50%) column is the figure most often used as the income ceiling for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program. Federal rules also require housing authorities to direct at least 75% of new voucher admissions to extremely low income households.
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
Fair Market Rent is HUD’s estimate of what a modest unit rents for, including utilities, in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA area. Housing authorities use it to set the payment standard that caps voucher assistance. It is not a rent cap and it is not what any particular landlord charges.
| Unit size | FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $2,459 / month |
| 1 bedroom | $2,746 / month |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,124 / month |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,075 / month |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,647 / month |
Assisted and affordable properties recorded in Santa Barbara County
HUD records 78 subsidised or tax-credit properties in this county. Each is listed below under the program that federal records actually associate it with. None of these listings means a unit is currently vacant or that applications are open.
HUD-Assisted Properties
Properties with an active HUD subsidy contract, such as Project-Based Section 8, Section 202 housing for the elderly, or Section 811 housing for people with disabilities.
| Property | Address | Classification | Units | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Court Accessible | 648 Maple St, Carpinteria 93013 | HUD-Assisted Property | 6 assisted | (818) 782-2211 |
| Central Plaza Apts. | 200 N McClelland St, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 22 assisted | — |
| GOLETA ACCESSIBLE APARTMENTS | 6069 Shirrell Way, Goleta 93117 | HUD-Assisted Property | 12 assisted | — |
| L.C. Grossman Homes | 5575 Armitos Ave, Goleta 93117 | HUD-Assisted Property | 14 assisted | (805) 736-3423 |
| Leland RAD, LP | 250 N Pacific St, Orcutt 93455 | HUD-Assisted Property | 15 assisted | (805) 736-3423 |
| Lompoc Gardens RAD | 300 W College Ave, Lompoc 93436 | HUD-Assisted Property | 74 assisted | (805) 736-3423 |
| Lompoc Terrace | 805 W Apricot Ave, Lompoc 93436 | HUD-Assisted Property | 39 assisted | (805) 736-3423 |
| New Visions | 1106 N School St, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 6 assisted | (805) 925-0285 |
| Oak Knolls Apartments | 4845 S Bradley Rd, Santa Maria 93455 | HUD-Assisted Property | 40 assisted | (805) 934-2027 |
| PILGRIM TERRACE | 649 Pilgrim Terrace Dr, Santa Barbara 93101 | HUD-Assisted Property | 83 assisted | (805) 682-3618 |
| PRESIDIO PARK APTS | 420 and 424 E. De La Guerra, Santa Barbara 93101 | HUD-Assisted Property | 50 assisted | (805) 966-2963 |
| RAINBOW PLAZA | 220 W Pine Ave, Lompoc 93436 | HUD-Assisted Property | 31 assisted | (805) 735-1952 |
| Union Plaza | 120 N Broadway, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 122 assisted | (805) 922-5226 |
| VALENTINE COURT I | 280 E Newlove Dr, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 34 assisted | (805) 925-6373 |
| VALENTINE COURT II | 1760 S McClelland St, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 18 assisted | — |
| Valentine Court III | 250 E Newlove Dr, Santa Maria 93454 | HUD-Assisted Property | 9 assisted | (805) 781-3088 |
| Villa Caridad Senior Homes | 4202 Calle Real, Santa Barbara 93110 | HUD-Assisted Property | 94 assisted | (805) 683-4375 |
| VILLA LA ESPERANZA | 131 S Kellogg Ave, Goleta 93117 | HUD-Assisted Property | 75 assisted | (806) 964-0353 |
HUD records identify this as an affordable or assisted housing property. Current vacancies, eligibility and voucher policies must be confirmed directly with property management.
LIHTC Affordable Properties
Properties financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. LIHTC is a financing program, not Section 8 — rent is restricted, but a tax-credit property is not required to accept Housing Choice Vouchers and may have its own separate waiting list.
| Property | Address | Classification | Units | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1313 CASTILLO ST | 1313 CASTILLO ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 3 assisted | — |
| 657 SAN FELIPE DR | 657 SAN FELIPE DR, SANTA BARBARA 93111 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 1 assisted | — |
| APARICIO COMMUNITY APTS | 332 ELLWOOD BEACH DR, GOLETA 93117 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 53 assisted | — |
| ARBOR SQUARE APTS | 800 N G ST, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 124 assisted | — |
| ARTISAN COURT APTS | 422 E COTA ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 55 assisted | — |
| ATRIUM APTS | 4667 CARPINTERIA AVE, CARPINTERIA 93013 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 12 assisted | — |
| BRADLEY STUDIOS | 512 BATH ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 53 assisted | — |
| CANYON CROFT | 739 E VICTORIA ST, SANTA BARBARA 93103 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 4 assisted | — |
| CASA SERENA SENIOR APTS | 130 S FIFTH ST, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 47 assisted | — |
| CASAS DE LAS FLORES | 4090 VIA REAL, CARPINTERIA 93013 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 42 assisted | — |
| CASAS LAS GRANADAS | 21 E ANAPAMU ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 12 assisted | — |
| CENTRAL GARDENS I | 590 CENTRAL AVE, BUELLTON 93427 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 12 assisted | — |
| CENTRAL PLAZA APTS | 200 N MCCLELLAND ST, SANTA MARIA 93454 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 111 assisted | — |
| COTTAGE GARDENS APTS | 227 W DE LA GUERRA ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 17 assisted | — |
| CREEKSIDE VILLAGE (LOS ALAMOS) | 260 GONZALEZ DR, LOS ALAMOS | LIHTC Affordable Property | 38 assisted | — |
| CYPRESS COURT | 125 S SEVENTH ST, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 59 assisted | — |
| DAHLIA COURT II | 1305 DAHLIA CT, CARPINTERIA 93013 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 32 assisted | — |
| DE LA VINA FRAIL SENIORS | 1116 DE LA VINA ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 97 assisted | — |
| EAST CANON PERDIDO | 518 E CANON PERDIDO ST, SANTA BARBARA 93103 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 7 assisted | — |
| EL CARRILLO APTS | 315 W CARRILLO ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 61 assisted | — |
| EL PATIO COMMUNITY HOUSING | 4007 VIA LUCERO, SANTA BARBARA 93110 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 73 assisted | — |
| EL PATIO COMMUNITY HOUSING PHASE II | 4006 VIA LUCERO, SANTA BARBARA 93110 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 40 assisted | — |
| G+ COLLEGE FAMILY APTS | 608 N G ST, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 34 assisted | — |
| GUADALUPE COURT APARTMENTS PROJECT | 4202 11TH STREET, GUADALUPE 93434 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 37 assisted | — |
| HERITAGE II | 300 BURTON MESA BOULEVARD, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 79 assisted | — |
| HOMEBASE ON G | 513 N G ST, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 37 assisted | — |
| HOTEL DE RIVIERA | 125 W CARRILLO ST, SANTA BARBARA 93101 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 30 assisted | — |
| JARDIN DE LAS ROSAS | 510 N. SALSIPUEDES STREET, SANTA BARBARA 93103 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 39 assisted | — |
| JOHNSON COURT | 813 E. CARRILLO STREET, SANTA BARBARA 93103 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 16 assisted | — |
| KAILANI VILLAGE | 220 W N AVE, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 182 assisted | — |
| L.C. GROSSMAN (AKA APARICIO V) | 5575 ARMITOS AVENUE, GOLETA 93117 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 13 assisted | — |
| LELAND PARK (AKA EVANS PARK) | 250 NORTH PACIFIC AVE, ORCUTT 93455 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 15 assisted | — |
| LOMPOC GARDENS | 300 W COLLEGE AVE, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 67 assisted | — |
| LOMPOC TERRACE | 805 W. APRICOT AVENUE, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 39 assisted | — |
| LOMPOC TERRACE (SITE A) | 805 W APRICOT AVE, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 40 total | — |
| LOMPOC TERRACE APTS | 1001 W APRICOT AVE, LOMPOC 93436 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 27 total | — |
| LOS ADOBES DE MARIA II | 1148 W BOONE ST, SANTA MARIA 93458 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 51 assisted | — |
| LOS ADOBES DE MARIA III | 525 SOUTH RUSSELL AVENUE, SANTA MARIA 93458 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 33 assisted | — |
| LOS ALAMOS SENIOR APTS | 660 BELL ST, LOS ALAMOS 93440 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 14 assisted | — |
| LOS PINOS | 605 E NEWLOVE DR, SANTA MARIA 93454 | LIHTC Affordable Property | 23 assisted | — |
HUD records identify this as an affordable or assisted housing property. Current vacancies, eligibility and voucher policies must be confirmed directly with property management.
How to apply
- Contact the administering housing authority named above. Only they can tell you whether a waiting list is open.
- Check the income limits in the table above for your household size. Income is one factor, not the whole test.
- Ask about local preferences. Many authorities prioritise applicants who live or work in the area, veterans, people with disabilities, or families experiencing homelessness.
- Ask for the landlord list. Most authorities keep a list of owners who have accepted vouchers before. It is usually free and rarely published online.
Related housing resources
Other counties in California
Income limits and Fair Market Rents are set per county, so if you are near a county line check the guide for the county you actually live in.
Where this information comes from
| Dataset | Published by | Source last refreshed | We last synced |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUD Public Housing Authorities | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 18 August 2026 | 22 September 2026 |
| HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research | not published by the provider | 22 September 2026 |
| HUD Fair Market Rents | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 30 September 2025 | 22 September 2026 |
| HUD Multifamily Properties – Assisted | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 21 July 2026 | 22 September 2026 |
| HUD Public Housing Developments | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 21 July 2026 | 22 September 2026 |
| HUD Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Properties | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 14 May 2025 | 22 September 2026 |
These are federal administrative datasets. They record which properties receive a subsidy and which organisations administer which programs. They do not record vacancies, waiting-list status, or whether a landlord will accept a Housing Choice Voucher. Those things change constantly and can only be confirmed by contacting the housing authority or the property directly.
Important
Section8Finder is an independent information resource. We do not administer vouchers, we do not accept or process applications, and we cannot place anyone in housing. Applying through a housing authority is free — if any site asks you to pay to apply for Section 8, do not pay.
Income limits and Fair Market Rents are set by HUD and are revised at least annually. Eligibility is determined by the administering housing authority, which applies rules beyond income alone, including deductions, assets, household composition, citizenship or eligible immigration status, screening criteria and local preferences.