The Application Process Starts at Your Local Housing Authority
Section 8 applications in California go through your county or city housing authority, not through a state office or online portal. Each authority maintains its own waiting list, sets its own application periods, and processes applications at its own pace. You cannot apply to California as a whole — you apply to the specific authority that serves your address.
The first step is finding which housing authority covers your area. If you live in a city with its own authority (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, and others have their own), you apply there. If you live in an unincorporated area or a smaller city, you apply to the county authority. A phone call to your city or county government can confirm which authority to contact, or you can search the California Housing Finance Agency website for a list of authorities by region.
Once you identify your authority, contact them directly to learn whether they are currently accepting applications. Many authorities close their waiting lists when they reach capacity and reopen them months or years later. Some have permanent lists that never close. This information changes, so calling is the only way to know your authority's current status.
Key Takeaways
- You apply to your local housing authority (city or county), not to the state, and each authority has its own waiting list and application periods.
- Before you apply, call your housing authority to confirm they are accepting applications, because many close their lists when full.
- You will need proof of income, residency, citizenship or immigration status, Social Security numbers for all household members, and a signed lease or landlord contact information.
- Processing times vary widely by authority — some take six months, others take two years or longer — and your position on the waiting list depends on when you submit your application.
- If your authority's list is closed, you can ask to be notified when it reopens, or explore other housing programs while you wait.
Documents You Will Need Before You Apply
Section 8 authorities require specific documents to process your application. Gather these before you contact your housing authority, because some will not accept incomplete applications and you may need to resubmit if documents are missing or outdated.
You will need proof of income for all household members who work — recent pay stubs (usually the last 30 days), a letter from your employer, or tax returns if you are self-employed. If anyone receives benefits, bring documentation from that source: Social Security statements, unemployment notices, child support orders, or pension letters. If no one in the household has income, bring a statement explaining that.
Bring proof of residency in California — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government mail showing your current address. You will also need proof of citizenship or immigration status for all household members. U.S. citizens can use a birth certificate, passport, or driver's license. Non-citizens need a green card, visa, employment authorization document, or other immigration paperwork. Some authorities accept a Social Security card as proof of status; others do not, so ask your authority what they accept.
Bring Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for every person in your household, including children. If you are currently renting, bring a copy of your lease and your landlord's contact information. If you do not yet have a lease, the authority will ask you to provide one before they issue a voucher.
Income Limits and Household Size Rules
Section 8 in California has income limits that vary by county and by household size. The limit is usually set at 50 percent of the area median income, though some authorities use 60 percent. A single person in one county might have a limit of $30,000 per year, while a family of four in a different county might have a limit of $55,000. Your housing authority publishes its current income limits — ask for them when you call to confirm they are accepting applications.
Income is counted as gross income before taxes. If you are self-employed, the authority will average your income over the past two years. If you receive benefits, those count as income. Child support and alimony count as income. Some types of income do not count — for example, income of household members under 18, some types of student financial aid, and certain disability payments — but you will need to document what you receive and let the authority determine what counts.
Household size includes you, your spouse if you are married, your children under 18, and any other person living with you who is related to you or has lived with you for at least 12 months. Foster children count. Live-in aides for elderly or disabled household members count. Unrelated roommates do not count as household members, even if they share expenses.
What Happens After You Submit Your Application
After you turn in your application, the housing authority will send you a confirmation letter with an application number and your position on the waiting list. Keep this letter — you will need the application number if you call with questions. The authority will also tell you the estimated wait time, though this is often an underestimate and can change as more people apply.
The authority will contact you when it is your turn to move forward. This is usually a phone call or letter asking you to come in for an interview. At the interview, a staff member will review your application, ask questions about your household and income, and verify the documents you submitted. Bring originals or certified copies — photocopies alone are often not accepted. The interview usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.
After the interview, the authority will make a decision on your application. If you are found to meet the income and household requirements, you will be issued a housing voucher (also called a Section 8 voucher). This is a document that tells a landlord the housing authority will pay a portion of your rent. You then have a set amount of time — usually 60 to 120 days — to find a rental unit that meets the authority's standards and that a landlord is willing to accept.
Once you find a unit and a landlord agrees to participate, the authority will inspect the property to make sure it meets housing quality standards. If it passes, the authority and landlord sign a contract, and your rent payments begin. You pay your share of the rent (usually 30 percent of your income), and the authority pays the landlord the rest.
Waiting Times Vary Significantly by Location
How long you wait depends entirely on which authority serves your area. Some California authorities have waiting lists of a few hundred people and process applications within six months to a year. Others have waiting lists of tens of thousands and wait times of three to five years or longer. A few authorities have closed their lists and are not accepting new applications at all.
The Los Angeles Housing Authority, which serves the city of Los Angeles, has one of the longest waits in the state — often three years or more. The San Francisco Housing Authority typically has shorter waits, sometimes one to two years. Smaller counties and cities may have much shorter waits or may not have a waiting list at all. Your position on the list is determined by the date you submit your application, so earlier applications move through faster.
Some authorities prioritize certain applicants — for example, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, or people being displaced by redevelopment. Ask your authority whether they have a preference system and whether you might may have access to for priority placement.
What to Do If Your Housing Authority's List Is Closed
If your authority is not accepting applications, ask when they expect to reopen their list. Some authorities reopen annually on a specific date. Others reopen when funding becomes available, which is unpredictable. Ask to be added to a notification list so you are contacted when applications reopen.
While you wait, explore other housing programs. California has emergency rental assistance programs (though funding varies by county), affordable housing developments that rent directly to low-income households, and nonprofit organizations that help people find housing. Your county social services office or a 211 referral can point you toward programs currently accepting people in your area.
Some people apply to multiple housing authorities if they are willing to move. If you work in one county but live in another, you might be able to apply to both. Call each authority to ask whether they serve people who work in their area or whether residency is required.
Income Changes and Recertification After You Receive a Voucher
Once you are receiving Section 8, the housing authority will ask you to recertify your income and household composition every year. Recertification means you provide updated pay stubs, benefit statements, and other income documents so the authority can recalculate your rent share. If your income has increased, your rent payment will increase. If your income has decreased, your rent payment will decrease.
You must report certain changes to your housing authority right away — if someone moves out of your household, if you have a new job, or if your income changes significantly. Failing to report changes can result in overpayment of rent or loss of your voucher. Your lease with the authority will spell out what changes you must report and how to report them.
If you move to a different rental unit, you can take your voucher with you as long as the new unit meets housing quality standards and the landlord agrees to participate. You cannot take your voucher to a different state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for Section 8 if I am not a U.S. citizen?
It depends on your immigration status. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can receive Section 8. Some other immigration statuses may also be may be able to access, including refugees, asylees, and people with certain work visas. Undocumented immigrants are not may be able to access. Bring whatever immigration documentation you have when you apply, and the authority will tell you whether your status qualifies.
What if I have an eviction on my record?
An eviction does not automatically disqualify you, but the housing authority will ask about it. If the eviction was recent (within the last few years) or if you have multiple evictions, some authorities may deny your application. Others consider the reason for the eviction and whether you have since paid what you owed. Be honest about your history — the authority will likely find out anyway through a background check.
Do I have to have a lease before I apply?
No. You can apply without a lease. However, you will need to find a rental unit and sign a lease before the authority issues your voucher. Once you are approved, you typically have 60 to 120 days to find a unit. If you cannot find one in that time, you may lose your voucher.
What if my housing authority's waiting list is years long?
Ask whether they have a preference system that might move you up the list — for example, if you are homeless, have a disability, or are being displaced. If not, ask to be notified when the list reopens so you can reapply if it closes. In the meantime, contact your county social services office or call 211 to learn about other housing programs that may have shorter waits or different requirements.
Can I apply to more than one housing authority at the same time?
Yes, if you are willing to move to a different area. Each authority maintains its own waiting list and application process. If you work in one county and live in another, ask both authorities whether you can apply. Some authorities only serve residents; others serve people who work in their area. There is no penalty for applying to multiple authorities.