FMR Lookup › California › Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (FY2027)
HUD's official FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2027 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $2,479 | $2,231 – $2,727 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,711 | $2,440 – $2,982 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,106 | $2,795 – $3,417 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,990 | $3,591 – $4,389 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,557 | $4,101 – $5,013 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. FY2027 FMRs are effective October 1, 2026. FY2027 FMRs take effect October 1, 2026; until that date, the prior FY2026 schedule remains in effect. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $3,106 — 88% above the California median of $1,656 across all 51 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA FMR area is a metro area covering: Santa Barbara County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable California markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine | $2,610 | $3,057 | $4,153 |
| San Benito County | $2,296 | $3,004 | $4,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale | $2,402 | $2,964 | $3,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $2,778 | $3,272 | $4,396 |
| Napa | $2,580 | $3,375 | $4,201 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $2,335 | $2,823 | $3,743 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Santa Maria-Santa Barbara.