Section 8 in Merced, CA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Merced, CA metro area (CBSA 32900). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,116 | $1,004 – $1,228 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,213 | $1,092 – $1,334 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,503 | $1,353 – $1,653 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,067 | $1,860 – $2,274 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,503 | $2,253 – $2,753 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Merced, CA covers up to $1,503 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,353–$1,653.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Merced, CA
1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
County of Merced Housing Authority
Merced, CA · CA023 · 2,891 HCV units
Source-of-income law in CA
CA state law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to Section 8 voucher holders on the basis of their source of income.
FEHA (SB 329) · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Merced, CA property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.