PHA Directory / SFHA
SFHA Payment Standards 2026–27
Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco runs the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program for San Francisco. It sets its own payment standards — the most it will pay toward rent for each unit size — and federal rules normally require those to fall between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area (the metro-wide FMR, or ZIP-level Small Area FMRs where the authority uses them) unless HUD approves an exception. Below are HUD's FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026) figures for the 26 ZIP codes in its area, the benchmark SFHA's schedule is built from.
SFHA Utility Allowances 2026
Monthly allowances for utilities the tenant pays, effective January 1, 2026. Add the allowance for each utility you pay yourself; the total is added to the rent to get the gross rent compared with the payment standard. Source: SFHA Utility Allowances Schedule, form HUD-52667 (PDF, dated January 1, 2026) (read October 17, 2026).
| Utility | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5 BR | 6 BR | 7 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached single-family home — Heating | ||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $35 | $39 | $48 | $56 | $67 | $76 | $84 | $97 |
| Heating – electric | $72 | $82 | $95 | $106 | $119 | $140 | $154 | $184 |
| Heating – electric heat pump | $62 | $70 | $81 | $90 | $101 | $119 | $131 | $157 |
| Detached single-family home — Cooking | ||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $14 |
| Cooking – electric | $27 | $32 | $36 | $40 | $45 | $49 | $54 | $65 |
| Detached single-family home — Other electric | ||||||||
| Other electric (lights, appliances) | $70 | $92 | $109 | $132 | $156 | $184 | $202 | $243 |
| Detached single-family home — Air conditioning | ||||||||
| Air conditioning | $32 | $39 | $52 | $60 | $68 | $75 | $83 | $99 |
| Detached single-family home — Water heating | ||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $21 | $22 | $27 | $32 | $38 | $43 | $47 | $56 |
| Water heating – electric | $48 | $50 | $69 | $92 | $114 | $132 | $146 | $175 |
| Water heating – electric heat pump | $36 | $37 | $52 | $69 | $85 | $99 | $109 | $131 |
| Detached single-family home — Water, sewer and trash | ||||||||
| Water | $39 | $42 | $69 | $88 | $118 | $137 | $177 | $216 |
| Sewer | $49 | $53 | $100 | $133 | $184 | $218 | $286 | $353 |
| Trash collection | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 |
| Detached single-family home — Customer charges | ||||||||
| Electric customer charge | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Natural gas customer charge | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Detached single-family home — Tenant-supplied appliances | ||||||||
| Range | $8 | $8 | $8 | $8 | $8 | $8 | $8 | $8 |
| Refrigerator | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Heating | ||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $30 | $33 | $41 | $48 | $57 | $64 | $72 | $83 |
| Heating – electric | $62 | $70 | $81 | $90 | $101 | $119 | $131 | $157 |
| Heating – electric heat pump | $53 | $60 | $69 | $77 | $86 | $101 | $111 | $133 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Cooking | ||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $14 |
| Cooking – electric | $27 | $32 | $36 | $40 | $45 | $49 | $54 | $65 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Other electric | ||||||||
| Other electric (lights, appliances) | $70 | $92 | $109 | $132 | $156 | $184 | $202 | $243 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Air conditioning | ||||||||
| Air conditioning | $28 | $33 | $44 | $51 | $58 | $64 | $70 | $84 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Water heating | ||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $21 | $22 | $27 | $32 | $38 | $43 | $47 | $56 |
| Water heating – electric | $48 | $50 | $69 | $92 | $114 | $132 | $146 | $175 |
| Water heating – electric heat pump | $36 | $37 | $52 | $69 | $85 | $99 | $109 | $131 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Water, sewer and trash | ||||||||
| Water | $39 | $42 | $69 | $88 | $116 | $135 | $174 | $213 |
| Sewer | $49 | $53 | $100 | $133 | $184 | $218 | $285 | $353 |
| Trash collection | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Customer charges | ||||||||
| Electric customer charge | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Natural gas customer charge | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Low-rise apartment (2–4 units) — Tenant-supplied appliances | ||||||||
| Range | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Refrigerator | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Heating | ||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $28 | $31 | $38 | $45 | $54 | $61 | $68 | $78 |
| Heating – electric | $58 | $66 | $76 | $85 | $96 | $112 | $123 | $147 |
| Heating – electric heat pump | $49 | $56 | $65 | $72 | $81 | $95 | $105 | $125 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Cooking | ||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $14 |
| Cooking – electric | $27 | $32 | $36 | $40 | $45 | $49 | $54 | $65 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Other electric | ||||||||
| Other electric (lights, appliances) | $70 | $92 | $109 | $132 | $156 | $184 | $202 | $243 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Air conditioning | ||||||||
| Air conditioning | $26 | $31 | $41 | $48 | $55 | $60 | $66 | $79 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Water heating | ||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $21 | $22 | $27 | $32 | $38 | $43 | $47 | $56 |
| Water heating – electric | $48 | $50 | $69 | $92 | $114 | $132 | $146 | $175 |
| Water heating – electric heat pump | $36 | $37 | $52 | $69 | $85 | $99 | $109 | $131 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Water, sewer and trash | ||||||||
| Water | $39 | $42 | $69 | $88 | $118 | $137 | $174 | $213 |
| Sewer | $49 | $53 | $100 | $133 | $184 | $218 | $285 | $353 |
| Trash collection | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Customer charges | ||||||||
| Electric customer charge | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Natural gas customer charge | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| High-rise apartment (5+ units) — Tenant-supplied appliances | ||||||||
| Range | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Refrigerator | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Attached single-family home — Heating | ||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $32 | $35 | $43 | $50 | $60 | $68 | $77 | $87 |
| Heating – electric | $65 | $74 | $86 | $95 | $107 | $126 | $139 | $166 |
| Heating – electric heat pump | $56 | $63 | $73 | $81 | $91 | $107 | $118 | $141 |
| Attached single-family home — Cooking | ||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $14 |
| Cooking – electric | $27 | $32 | $36 | $40 | $45 | $49 | $54 | $65 |
| Attached single-family home — Other electric | ||||||||
| Other electric (lights, appliances) | $70 | $92 | $109 | $132 | $156 | $184 | $202 | $243 |
| Attached single-family home — Air conditioning | ||||||||
| Air conditioning | $26 | $31 | $41 | $48 | $55 | $60 | $66 | $79 |
| Attached single-family home — Water heating | ||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $21 | $22 | $27 | $32 | $38 | $43 | $47 | $56 |
| Water heating – electric | $48 | $50 | $69 | $92 | $114 | $132 | $146 | $175 |
| Water heating – electric heat pump | $36 | $37 | $52 | $69 | $85 | $99 | $109 | $131 |
| Attached single-family home — Water, sewer and trash | ||||||||
| Water | $39 | $42 | $69 | $88 | $118 | $137 | $174 | $213 |
| Sewer | $49 | $53 | $100 | $133 | $184 | $218 | $285 | $353 |
| Trash collection | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 |
| Attached single-family home — Customer charges | ||||||||
| Electric customer charge | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Natural gas customer charge | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Attached single-family home — Tenant-supplied appliances | ||||||||
| Range | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Refrigerator | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Heating | ||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $32 | $36 | $44 | $52 | $62 | $70 | $78 | $90 |
| Heating – electric | $67 | $77 | $88 | $98 | $111 | $130 | $143 | $171 |
| Heating – electric heat pump | $57 | $65 | $75 | $84 | $94 | $111 | $122 | $146 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Cooking | ||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $14 |
| Cooking – electric | $24 | $29 | $32 | $36 | $41 | $44 | $49 | $59 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Other electric | ||||||||
| Other electric (lights, appliances) | $63 | $83 | $98 | $119 | $140 | $166 | $182 | $219 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Air conditioning | ||||||||
| Air conditioning | $29 | $35 | $47 | $54 | $61 | $68 | $75 | $89 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Water heating | ||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $19 | $20 | $24 | $29 | $34 | $39 | $42 | $50 |
| Water heating – electric | $43 | $45 | $62 | $83 | $103 | $119 | $131 | $158 |
| Water heating – electric heat pump | $32 | $33 | $47 | $62 | $77 | $89 | $98 | $118 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Water, sewer and trash | ||||||||
| Water | $39 | $42 | $69 | $88 | $118 | $137 | $177 | $216 |
| Sewer | $49 | $53 | $100 | $133 | $184 | $218 | $286 | $353 |
| Trash collection | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $47 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Customer charges | ||||||||
| Electric customer charge | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
| Natural gas customer charge | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Mobile or manufactured home — Tenant-supplied appliances | ||||||||
| Range | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| Refrigerator | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 | $12 |
- SFHA publishes one schedule for each of five unit types: detached single-family, attached single-family, low-rise apartment (2–4 units), high-rise apartment (5+ units) and mobile or manufactured home.
- The schedule prints no amounts for bottled gas or fuel oil.
Contact SFHA
Phone: (415) 715-5200
Email: CustomerCare@sfha.org
Address: 1815 Egbert Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124
HUD rents by ZIP code
2-bedroom HUD figure for each ZIP. Open a ZIP for every unit size.
$3,25094103 San Francisco
$3,93094104 San Francisco
$3,48094105 San Francisco
$4,26094107 San Francisco
$4,93094108 San Francisco
$3,25094109 San Francisco
$3,25094110 San Francisco
$3,37094111 San Francisco
$3,87094112 San Francisco
$3,25094114 San Francisco
$4,12094115 San Francisco
$4,16094116 San Francisco
$4,08094117 San Francisco
$4,01094118 San Francisco
$3,43094121 San Francisco
$3,25094122 San Francisco
$3,41094123 San Francisco
$4,65094124 San Francisco
$3,25094127 San Francisco
$3,56094129 San Francisco
$3,69094130 San Francisco
$3,57094131 San Francisco
$4,02094132 San Francisco
$3,25094133 San Francisco
$3,25094134 San Francisco
$3,250
Rent limits for San Francisco
Other housing authorities in California: HACLA, SDHC, San Diego County Housing Authority, SHRA, Santa Clara County Housing Authority, Anaheim Housing Authority, LACDA, OCHA, HACLB, HACSB, Fresno Housing, Riverside County Housing Authority, Oakland Housing Authority, Santa Ana Housing Authority, Garden Grove Housing Authority, Santa Cruz County Housing Authority
Not sure which authority covers an address? Use the PHA directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SFHA payment standard?
A payment standard is the maximum monthly amount SFHA uses to calculate a voucher's housing assistance for a given unit size. SFHA chooses its payment standards, and HUD rules (24 CFR 982.503) normally require them to fall between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area (the metro-wide FMR, or ZIP-level Small Area FMRs where the authority uses them) — the "basic range". An authority can go above 110% only with an exception payment standard approved by HUD or allowed by HUD notice.
What are SFHA's utility allowances for 2026?
SFHA's current utility allowances took effect on January 1, 2026 (source: SFHA Utility Allowances Schedule, form HUD-52667 (PDF, dated January 1, 2026)). For a 2-bedroom, the allowance for a single utility ranges from $4 to $109 a month. Add the allowance for each utility you pay yourself. The total is added to the contract rent, and that gross rent is what is compared with the payment standard, so a unit with tenant-paid utilities needs a lower rent to fit.
Why might SFHA's published amounts differ from the HUD figures on this page?
The figures here are HUD's FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026) Small Area FMRs. SFHA sets its own amounts as a percentage of these (anywhere in the 90–110% basic range), and it adopts new amounts on its own schedule. When new HUD figures would put its payment standards outside the basic range, HUD rules require the authority to revise them within three months of the new figures taking effect. Always use SFHA's own published schedule for your actual voucher amount.
Where can I find SFHA's official payment standard schedule?
On SFHA's website (https://www.sfha.org) or from your caseworker. Voucher holders also receive the amount for their unit size in their briefing packet.
Does a higher payment standard mean the voucher pays more of my rent?
It raises the ceiling. The housing assistance payment is the lower of the payment standard or the unit's gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities), minus your total tenant payment — usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income (24 CFR 982.505). If a unit's gross rent is above the payment standard, you pay the difference, and at initial lease-up your share can't exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income.
Why do the amounts change by ZIP code?
HUD publishes Small Area FMRs for each ZIP code in SFHA's area rather than one figure for the whole metro area. Some authorities are required to use them and others may choose to; where an authority uses them, its payment standards vary by ZIP too, so higher-rent neighborhoods get higher ceilings. Check SFHA's schedule for the ZIP of the unit, not where you live now.