Section 8 Department Payment Standards

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Voucher Payment Standards (VPS)

In the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, payment standards are used in the calculation of Housing Assistance Payments (HAPs) that the Housing Authority pays to the owner on behalf of the family leasing the unit.

Payment standards are the maximum monthly assistance that the Housing Authority will pay on behalf of the family.

The payment standard for a family is the lower of:

  • Payment standard for the family’s unit size indicated on the voucher; or
  • Payment standard for the size of the unit leased by the family.

Additional factors that influence the Housing Assistance Payment to the owner include the family's size and income, utilities the family is responsible for, and the cost of comparable units in the area.

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR) Housing Authority and, in accordance with 24 CFR 982.503, is required to implement SAFMR-based payment standards no later than January 1, 2025.

SAFMRs are Fair Market Rents (FMRs) calculated at the ZIP code level, rather than for the entire metropolitan area. SAFMRs are intended to more accurately reflect the local market and provide families with access to low-poverty and high-opportunity areas by providing rental assistance at a level that makes the higher rents in such areas affordable for them.

SAFMR payment standard schedule by grouped ZIP code

Effective September 1, 2026

Tier
 
         
   ZIP Code
Bedroom Size
Efficiency
1
Bedroom
2
Bedroom
3
Bedroom
4
Bedroom
5
Bedroom
6
Bedroom
7
Bedroom
8
Bedroom
9
Bedroom
10
Bedroom
1
90001, 90002,
90003, 90021,
90023, 90031,
90037, 90040,
90058, 90059,
90063, 93535,
93550, 93560
$1,584
$1,793
$2,277
$2,915
$3,212
$3,693
$4,175
$4,657
$5,139
$5,621
$6,102
2
 
90011, 90032,
90007, 90022,
90033, 90044,
90255, 90061,
90221, 90270,
90710, 90810,
90043, 90262,
91733
$1,771
$1,980
$2,475
$3,135
$3,498
$4,022
$4,547
$5,072
$5,596
$6,121
$6,646
3
 
90006, 90008,
90018, 90047,
90062, 90201,
90222, 90248,
90249, 90303,
90744, 90805,
90806, 90813,
91731, 91768,
91770, 93536
$1,903
$2,123
$2,651
$3,366
$3,740
$4,301
$4,862
$5,423
$5,984
$6,545
$7,106
4
 
90016, 90057,
90247, 90250,
90301, 90640,
90706, 90723,
90731, 91306,
91331, 91340,
91342, 91343,
91352, 91402,
91605, 91723,
91732, 91744,
91754, 91755,
91776, 91803
$2,024
$2,266
$2,827
$3,586
$3,993
$4,591
$5,190
$5,789
$6,388
$6,987
$7,586
5
 
90029, 90041,
90065, 90241,
90242, 90260,
90302, 90305,
90501, 90502,
90601, 90602,
90604, 90605,
90717, 90745,
90755, 90804,
90807, 91042,
91384, 91606,
91702, 91801
$2,058
$2,310
$2,877
$3,643
$4,063
$4,672
$5,281
$5,891
$6,500
$7,110
$7,719
6
 
90019, 90026,
90042, 90009,
90053, 91040,
91043, 91327,
91333, 91334,
91341, 91346,
91353, 91357,
91393, 91404,
91405, 91603,
91609, 91748,
90606, 91791,
91401, 91745
$2,060
$2,310
$2,880
$3,650
$4,070
$4,680
$5,291
$5,901
$6,512
$7,122
$7,733
7
 
90004, 90012,
90020, 90028,
90240, 90670,
90802, 91104,
91205, 91303,
91304, 91321,
91325, 91335,
91345, 91356,
91406, 91411,
91502, 91506,
91722, 91775,
91780
$2,110
$2,370
$2,950
$3,740
$4,160
$4,784
$5,408
$6,032
$6,656
$7,280
$7,904
8
 
90005, 90013,
90038, 90039,
90404, 90701,
90715, 90814,
91001, 91006,
91007, 91010,
91201, 91203,
91204, 91316,
91504, 91607,
91711, 91724,
91741, 91790,
91792
$2,230
$2,500
$3,120
$3,960
$4,400
$5,060
$5,720
$6,380
$7,040
$7,700
$8,360
9
 
90017, 90027,
90034, 90056,
90066, 90405,
90504, 90505,
90603, 90712,
90808, 91106,
91202, 91206,
91307, 91311,
91324, 91344,
91351, 91362,
91390, 91601,
91773
$2,410
$2,700
$3,370
$4,270
$4,760
$5,474
$6,188
$6,902
$7,616
$8,330
$9,044
10
 
90010, 90014,
90035, 90046,
90048, 90068,
90094, 90230,
90232, 90713,
90732, 91101,
91350, 91361,
91387, 91403,
91423, 91505,
91602, 91604,
91765
$2,580
$2,890
$3,600
$4,560
$5,080
$5,842
$6,604
$7,366
$8,128
$8,890
$9,652
11
 
90015, 90024,
90025, 90036,
90045, 90049,
90064, 90069,
90073, 90211,
90212, 90245,
90266, 90272,
90291, 90292,
90293, 90401,
90703, 90746,
91326, 91355,
91364, 91367,
91381, 91436,
91789
$2,870
$3,210
$4,000
$5,070
$5,650
$6,497
$7,345
$8,192
$9,040
$9,887
$10,735

 All ZIP codes outside of the Los Angeles City limits may only be used in Community Choice Demonstration programs.

 

Regardless of its location, or whether the unit is providing a reasonable accommodation, the unit’s rent can never be higher than the comparable rents determined by HACLA.

The landlord's asking rent for the unit must be supported by comparable rents within the area. Regardless of the location, the rent for the unit can never be higher than the comparable rent determined by the HACLA/third party vendor regardless of the VPS.

There are no area exception rents at this time.

FAMILY SHARE REMINDER: At the starting date of the initial Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract for a unit (lease-in-place or otherwise) if the contract rent is higher than the appropriate VPS, the family share cannot be greater than 40% of the family's adjusted monthly income. This is a statutory and regulatory requirement. There are absolutely no exceptions and HUD headquarters (D.C.) cannot grant a waiver on this matter.

Updated: 09-01-2026

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