Housing authority in San Bernardino, California: complete guide

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the housing authority in San Bernardino, California?

San Bernardino County's main public housing agency is the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, known as HACSB. It covers unincorporated county areas and most of the county's smaller cities. The main office sits at 715 E. Brier Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408, with satellite offices around the county.^[1]

Here's the trap. The City of San Bernardino runs its own separate agency, the Housing Authority of the City of San Bernardino (SBHA). The two share almost the same name but they're legally distinct, cover different jurisdictions, and keep separate waitlists. Want to live inside city limits? You apply to the city agency. Looking at unincorporated areas or the smaller county cities? You go through the county authority.^[1]

HACSB County is one of the larger housing authorities in California. It runs the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8), Project-Based Vouchers, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, and other HUD-funded assistance.

Figure out which agency covers your target address before you do anything else. Get it wrong and you sit in the wrong line for months.

How do you apply for Section 8 in San Bernardino County?

Applications go through HACSB's online portal at hacsb.com. The county opens its waitlist by lottery, not on a rolling basis, so there's no line to join whenever you feel like it. When the list is closed, HACSB takes nothing. The last publicly announced county opening pulled in tens of thousands of applications within days.^[2]

Here's the sequence once the list opens:

1. Watch hacsb.com, the agency's social media, and local news. Sign up for email alerts if that's offered during the open window. 2. Submit your pre-application online during the enrollment period. You'll need Social Security numbers for everyone in the household, your current address, income, and family composition. 3. HACSB assigns lottery positions at random. Your spot is set when the lottery closes, not by how early you applied inside the window. 4. You get a confirmation number. Keep it. You can check your position on the HACSB portal later. 5. When your number comes up, HACSB mails an eligibility appointment letter. Miss that appointment and you lose your spot.

Wait times are hard to pin down because they move with funding and voucher turnover. Before 2020, some applicants in San Bernardino County waited five to seven years. Current estimates run about the same. Nobody publishes a reliable median wait for this county; the closest federal data is HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households, which shows how many units are occupied but says nothing about how long the queue is.^[3]

While you wait, look at open Section 8 waiting lists in nearby counties. Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange County housing authorities keep separate lists and open them on their own schedules.

What are HACSB's payment standards for 2024-2025?

Payment standards are the ceiling on what HACSB pays toward rent and utilities each month. They start from HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area, then get adjusted by zip code or sub-area within the county.^[4]

HUD set these FMRs for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA for Fiscal Year 2025:^[4]

Bedroom size	FY2025 FMR (MSA-wide)
SRO (0-BR)	$1,144
1-Bedroom	$1,496
2-Bedroom	$1,883
3-Bedroom	$2,591
4-Bedroom	$3,048

HACSB can set its actual payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR without asking HUD, or higher with a HUD exception. The agency has historically kept standards at or near FMR, though it has requested exception standards in high-cost zip codes near the mountain communities and the Victor Valley.

A voucher holder pays the gap between the payment standard (or the actual rent, whichever is lower) and 30% of adjusted monthly income. If the landlord's rent runs above the payment standard, the tenant covers the difference out of pocket, and at initial lease-up that extra share can't push the tenant's total housing cost past 40% of income.^[5]

Standards change every year. Confirm the current schedule with HACSB before you sign a lease or list a unit. Last year's numbers will burn you.

Is the HACSB waitlist open right now?

Check the source directly, because it changes. As of this article's last update, the HACSB County waitlist status shifts periodically. The county closes its list for stretches that can run years, then opens briefly for a lottery.^[2]

The City of San Bernardino Housing Authority (SBHA) keeps its own waitlist on its own schedule, also closed most of the time.

Fastest ways to check current status:

• HACSB County: hacsb.com (look for a "Waitlist" or "Apply" button)
• SBHA City: sbcity.org (search "housing authority")
• HUD's "Find a Housing Authority" tool: hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts
• California Housing Is Key hotline: 1-833-430-2122 (a state program, not federal Section 8, but useful for crosschecking)

If both local lists are closed, apply to neighboring county authorities and watch HUD's list of PHAs accepting applications. The rental assistance picture in the Inland Empire moves faster than most people expect, so a monthly two-minute check is worth it.

What income limits qualify you for a voucher in San Bernardino County?

HUD sets income limits every year off Area Median Income (AMI) for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro. To get a Housing Choice Voucher, your household generally can't earn more than 50% of AMI, the "very low income" limit.^[5] Federal law also reserves the bulk of new vouchers for the poorest applicants: "not less than 75 percent" of families admitted each year must be at or below 30% of AMI, per 24 CFR Part 982.^[5]

HUD's FY2025 income limits for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA:^[6]

Household size	30% AMI (Extremely Low)	50% AMI (Very Low)	80% AMI (Low)
1 person	$22,500	$37,450	$59,900
2 persons	$25,700	$42,800	$68,500
3 persons	$28,900	$48,150	$77,050
4 persons	$32,100	$53,500	$85,600
5 persons	$34,700	$57,800	$92,450

These figures move every year, sometimes by a lot. The official source is HUD's income limits page at huduser.gov. HACSB checks your income at application, again at the eligibility interview, and then every year after that.

Immigration status matters too. At least one household member has to be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. Mixed-status families can still qualify, on prorated assistance.^[5]

How does HACSB's HQS inspection process work for landlords?

Before HACSB pays a landlord anything, the unit has to pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. HQS is a federal standard set in 24 CFR 982.401 that covers structure, utilities, plumbing, heating, and safety items like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.^[7]

The sequence for landlords:

1. Your prospective tenant brings you a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet. 2. You complete and submit the RFTA to HACSB. 3. HACSB schedules an initial inspection, usually within 10 to 15 business days of receiving a complete RFTA (timelines vary with agency workload). 4. The inspector visits. Pass, and HACSB approves the rent, executes the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract, and money starts flowing. 5. Fail, and you get a list of deficiencies. Repairs are due within the window HACSB sets, commonly 30 days, though serious safety problems get a shorter deadline. 6. HACSB re-inspects. Pass the re-inspection and the lease can start.

The usual fail reasons in San Bernardino County: dead smoke detectors, missing carbon monoxide detectors (California requires them under Health & Safety Code 17926), peeling paint in pre-1978 housing, broken windows or screens, stoves or range hoods that don't work, and plumbing leaks.

Once you're under a HAP contract, HACSB inspects annually. A failed annual inspection can freeze your HAP payment until you fix the problem. Don't skip routine maintenance betting the inspector won't come. They come.

Can landlords in San Bernardino County refuse Section 8 vouchers?

No, not legally. California's source-of-income protection law, SB 329, took effect January 1, 2020, and bars landlords from refusing to rent to someone because they hold a Housing Choice Voucher or other housing assistance.^[8] It applies statewide, all of San Bernardino County included.

Under SB 329, turning down a voucher counts the same as housing discrimination based on a protected class. Violations can bring civil liability, damages, and attorney's fees under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

The limits are practical. You can still screen on credit, rental history, and income, as long as you apply the same standards to every applicant. And your rent has to sit within HACSB's rent reasonableness rules. Price your unit well above comparable units nearby and HACSB won't approve it, no matter what the market says.

Want the full inspection and payment picture before you commit? HACSB's landlord materials are on hacsb.com, and HUD keeps landlord resources at hud.gov. If you're weighing whether to join the program at all, the housing authority overview walks through the mechanics from the landlord's side.

How do you port a Section 8 voucher to or from San Bernardino County?

Portability lets a voucher holder move their subsidy from one housing authority's turf to another's. Hold a HACSB voucher and want to move to Los Angeles County? You port out. Hold a voucher from another PHA and want to move into San Bernardino County? You port in.^[9]

The federal rule lives in 24 CFR 982.353: once a family has used its voucher for at least 12 months (or is moving to protect health or safety), it can port to any jurisdiction in the United States.^[9]

How it goes:

1. Tell your current housing authority (the "initial PHA") in writing that you want to move. 2. The initial PHA sends your file to the receiving PHA (HACSB if you're porting in, the destination agency if you're porting out). 3. The receiving PHA either absorbs the voucher (takes over the HAP contract) or bills the initial PHA. HACSB's approach depends on its funding at the time. 4. You find a unit and go through RFTA and inspection with the receiving PHA.

Porting takes time. Four to eight weeks is common just for two agencies to move paperwork, and your voucher search clock keeps running the whole time. Ask for a time extension early if you think you'll need one; most PHAs grant 30 to 60 days with good cause. Blow your deadline and the voucher is gone.

Before you start, read the moving and porting breakdown.

What other housing programs does HACSB offer besides Section 8?

HACSB runs more than most people realize. The voucher program gets the attention, but these others can matter depending on your situation:

HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing): Pairs a Housing Choice Voucher with VA case management for homeless veterans. Referrals come through the VA, not the regular HACSB waitlist. A veteran experiencing homelessness should contact the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System first.^[1]

Project-Based Vouchers (PBV): The subsidy attaches to a specific unit in a specific development and doesn't move with you. HACSB partners with private developers to set aside units. PBV waiting lists are separate from the regular HCV list and sometimes shorter.

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS): A voluntary program for current voucher holders. As your earned income climbs, the HAP reduction that would normally follow gets parked in an escrow account instead. Finish the five-year contract and that escrow is yours, sometimes several thousand dollars.

Homeownership Voucher Program: Active voucher holders who meet income and employment rules can apply to put their monthly subsidy toward a mortgage instead of rent. Rare, but real.^[5]

State and regional partnerships: HACSB sometimes runs joint programs with state and regional bodies for affordable housing development and preservation. These shape which low income housing tax credit properties exist in the county.

A senior after stable housing without the open market's whiplash should look at low income senior housing in San Bernardino County. Several HACSB-partnered properties keep dedicated senior units and shorter PBV lists.

How do landlords find Section 8 tenants in San Bernardino County?

HACSB runs a landlord listing page where you post available units for voucher holders to browse. A few channels actually move units:

• HACSB's online landlord portal: hacsb.com lets you register as a participating landlord and list vacancies straight to voucher holders searching for housing.
• AffordableHousing.com and similar aggregators: These pull listings and often rank well in search for tenants hunting section 8 houses for rent.
• Go Section 8: A widely used tenant-facing listing platform. Post at go section 8 to reach a large pool of active voucher holders across the Inland Empire.
• Craigslist: Still heavily used in San Bernardino County. A listing that plainly welcomes vouchers pulls more responses than one that stays silent, which SB 329 requires of you anyway.

The thing most new landlords miss is timing. Voucher holders have a limited search window (typically 120 days, sometimes extended). If your unit can't pass inspection when they're ready, a tenant can lose their voucher waiting on you. Get the property into HQS shape before you list it, not after the RFTA lands on your desk.

VoucherReady offers a landlord kit with the key documents and a pre-inspection checklist built for California landlords. It cuts down the back-and-forth with HACSB inspectors over avoidable deficiencies.

What tenant rights do voucher holders have in San Bernardino County?

Voucher holders have rights under both federal law and California's stronger tenant protections.

Federal rights under 24 CFR 982: HACSB has to give you written notice before it terminates your assistance, and you have the right to an informal hearing to contest that termination.^[10] You can also move with your voucher once your initial lease term is up, as long as the new unit passes inspection and falls within payment standards.

California-specific protections:

• SB 329 (2019): source-of-income discrimination is banned statewide.^[8]
• AB 1482 (2019): caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%) for most residential units built more than 15 years ago, and adds just-cause eviction rules.^[11]
• Most COVID-era protections have expired, but some San Bernardino County cities layered on their own ordinances. Check with the city where the unit sits.

If a landlord tries to evict you in a way that smells retaliatory (say, you complained to HACSB about conditions and an eviction notice shows up right after), California Civil Code 1942.5 gives you protection against retaliatory eviction.

HACSB answers for its own conduct too. If you think the agency wrongly denied or ended your assistance, the informal hearing process under 24 CFR 982.554 is your remedy. You can also file a discrimination complaint with HUD at hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp.^[10]

For the wider federal framework that binds every PHA in the country, San Bernardino included, read the tenant rights overview.

How is the City of San Bernardino Housing Authority different from the County?

This one trips people up constantly. Two agencies, nearly identical names, completely separate programs.

The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) covers the unincorporated county and most cities inside it. The Housing Authority of the City of San Bernardino (SBHA) covers only the incorporated city of San Bernardino, which has its own city government.

The city agency has had real administrative trouble over the past decade. HUD placed SBHA under a Memorandum of Agreement over performance problems, which affected its voucher count and its capacity to run the program. Check the city agency's current status directly at sbcity.org before applying, because its ability to issue new vouchers has moved around a lot.

If your target address is inside San Bernardino city limits, apply to SBHA. Anywhere else in the county, including Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, Apple Valley, Redlands, or unincorporated areas, apply to HACSB County.

To confirm which agency serves a specific address, use HUD's PHA locator at hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha/contacts, enter the zip code, and it lists the relevant PHAs.^[12]

Where can you find Section 8 listings and available units in San Bernardino County?

Finding a landlord willing to rent to a voucher holder is often harder than landing the voucher. The county's rental market runs tight in the western end (Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario) and looser in the Victor Valley and desert communities, though payment standards don't always keep up with asking rents in the western Inland Empire.

Where to search:

• HACSB's landlord listing portal: hacsb.com. Units here come from landlords who registered with the agency and welcome vouchers.
• AffordableHousing.com and Socialserve.com: HUD partners that aggregate affordable and voucher-friendly listings.
• 211 San Bernardino County: call 211 or visit 211sb.org for referrals to affordable housing, including HACSB-partnered properties.
• HUD resource locator: hud.gov for properties with project-based subsidies.

For market-rate landlords open to vouchers (which SB 329 requires anyway), the standard platforms like Zillow, Apartments.com, and Craigslist all work. Be upfront in your first message. Landlords new to the program often carry misconceptions, and a short, plain explanation of how the payment actually works clears most of them.

The section 8 overview lays out the basics in plain terms. Share it with a hesitant landlord who has questions about how the subsidy flows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number and address for the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino?

HACSB's main office is at 715 E. Brier Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408. The general phone number is (909) 890-0644. The agency also runs regional offices in Victorville and elsewhere in the county. Check hacsb.com for the most current contact details and office hours, since both change from time to time.

How long is the wait for Section 8 in San Bernardino County?

Nobody publishes a precise current number. Historically the county waitlist has run five to seven years or longer. The list is closed far more often than it's open, so your real wait starts when you successfully enter the lottery, not when you check the website. Plan for a long wait and chase every other option at the same time.

Can I check my HACSB waitlist status online?

Yes. HACSB has an online portal at hacsb.com where applicants log in with their confirmation number to see their current position. If you never got a confirmation number when you applied, contact HACSB directly. Positions shift as vouchers get issued and as applicants drop off for failing to respond to agency mail.

Does HACSB accept emergency Section 8 applications?

HACSB does not run a separate emergency voucher track for the general public through normal channels. Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs), funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, were allocated to HACSB for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or trafficking. EHV referrals come through the continuum of care and social service agencies, not directly from applicants.

What happens if my HACSB unit fails inspection?

HACSB gives the landlord a written list of deficiencies and a deadline to fix them, usually 30 days for non-emergency items. HAP payments can be suspended if repairs don't happen. As a tenant, you keep your voucher during this time. If the landlord refuses to repair, you can request to move with your voucher after proper notice and HACSB approval.

Can I use my HACSB voucher to rent anywhere in California?

Yes, through portability. Once you've held your voucher for 12 months (or qualify for an exception), you can port it to any housing authority in California or anywhere in the U.S. You notify HACSB in writing and they send your file to the receiving PHA. That receiving agency applies its own payment standards and runs its own inspection.

Do San Bernardino County landlords have to accept Section 8?

Yes. California SB 329, effective January 1, 2020, bans source-of-income discrimination statewide. A landlord cannot legally refuse a tenant solely because they hold a Housing Choice Voucher. Violations are treated as housing discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and can bring damages and attorney's fees.

How much does HACSB pay landlords for a 2-bedroom unit?

HACSB pays the lower of the actual rent or the applicable payment standard, minus the tenant's share (30% of adjusted income). The FY2025 FMR for a 2-bedroom in the Riverside-San Bernardino MSA is $1,883, and HACSB's payment standard can run higher with a HUD exception. The landlord gets the balance from HACSB by direct deposit each month.

What is the Family Self-Sufficiency program at HACSB?

FSS is a voluntary five-year program for current voucher holders. As your earned income rises, the extra HAP savings that would normally disappear go into a HUD-funded escrow account instead. Complete your FSS contract goals, usually employment-related, and you get the full escrow balance. Some participants build $10,000 or more. Ask your HACSB caseworker for a referral.

Can seniors get priority on the HACSB waiting list?

HACSB does not grant blanket priority to seniors on the general HCV waitlist. Project-Based Voucher properties that restrict occupancy to seniors 62+ often keep separate, shorter waitlists, and some developments have designated senior units with a federally allowed elderly preference. Contact HACSB to ask which PBV properties with senior units are currently taking applications.

What documents do I need to apply for Section 8 in San Bernardino County?

For the pre-application, HACSB usually asks for basic household information only: names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, current address, and estimated income. The full paperwork (ID, proof of income, birth certificates, immigration status, rental history) comes later, when you reach the top of the waitlist and get called for an eligibility interview.

How do I report a problem with my landlord to HACSB?

Contact your HACSB caseworker in writing and describe the issue. If it involves habitability or HQS violations, HACSB can run a special inspection. If it involves discrimination, file a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at hud.gov or call 1-800-669-9777. For lease violations outside HQS, you may have to pursue remedies through San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Is there HUD housing (public housing) in San Bernardino County separate from Section 8?

Yes, and the difference matters. HACSB manages some public housing units, agency-owned rentals where tenants pay income-based rent directly to HACSB. These have a separate waitlist from the HCV program. The hud housing overview explains how public housing differs from the voucher program in more detail.

What cities in San Bernardino County are covered by HACSB?

HACSB County covers the unincorporated county and most incorporated cities, including Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, Apple Valley, Redlands, Rialto, Colton, and Hesperia, among others. The main exception is the City of San Bernardino itself, which runs its own separate housing authority. Confirm coverage for any specific address using HUD's PHA locator tool.

Sources

1. Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB), agency home page: HACSB's main office location, program list including HCV, PBV, VASH, and FSS, and jurisdiction covering unincorporated San Bernardino County and most county cities
2. HACSB, Waiting List information page: HACSB opens its waitlist by lottery, often closes it for extended periods, and applicants must apply during the open enrollment window
3. HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households data tool: HUD's Picture of Subsidized Households provides occupancy and subsidy counts by PHA but does not publish queue-length or median wait time data
4. HUD, FY2025 Fair Market Rents for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: FY2025 FMRs for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: 0BR $1,144, 1BR $1,496, 2BR $1,883, 3BR $2,591, 4BR $3,048
5. 24 CFR Part 982, HUD Code of Federal Regulations, Housing Choice Voucher Program: Tenant payment is 30% of adjusted monthly income; initial lease-up cap of 40% of income; not less than 75% of new admissions to extremely low income households; homeownership voucher eligibility
6. HUD, FY2025 Income Limits for Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA: FY2025 income limits for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA at 30%, 50%, and 80% AMI by household size
7. 24 CFR 982.401, HUD Housing Quality Standards: Federal HQS requirements covering structural conditions, utilities, plumbing, heating, and safety that all HCV units must meet before a HAP contract is executed
8. California SB 329 (2019), Government Code Section 12955, source-of-income discrimination prohibition: SB 329, effective January 1, 2020, prohibits landlords statewide from refusing to rent to tenants who hold a Housing Choice Voucher or other housing assistance
9. 24 CFR 982.353, HUD portability regulations: Voucher holders who have used their voucher for at least 12 months may port to any jurisdiction in the United States; receiving PHA may absorb or bill-back the initial PHA
10. 24 CFR 982.554, HUD informal hearing procedures for HCV program: Voucher holders have the right to an informal hearing before a PHA terminates assistance; federal regulations set the procedural requirements
11. California AB 1482 (2019), Tenant Protection Act, Civil Code Section 1946.2: AB 1482 limits rent increases to 5% plus local CPI (capped at 10%) annually and requires just-cause eviction for most residential units built more than 15 years ago
12. HUD, Find a Housing Authority (PHA Locator): HUD's PHA locator tool allows users to search by zip code or city to identify which housing authority serves a specific address