Income Limits

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Income Limits and Maximum Rent/Housing Costs

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes official state income limits for determining maximum incomes for eligibility to live in assisted housing, and maximum rents and housing costs that may be charged to eligible residents.

HCD Logo     2024 HCD State Income Limits as of May 2024

State statutory limits are based on federal limits set and are periodically revised by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The HUD’s limits are based on surveys of local area median income.

Click the images below to view the 2024 Riverside County Income Limit Table with Maximum Rents and Housing Costs.

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2024 Income and Rent Limits

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2024 Income and Housing Cost Limits


What is Area Median Income (AMI)?

The Area Median Income (AMI) is the midpoint of a region’s income distribution, meaning that half of households in a region earn more than the median and half earn less than the median. This is not the average income. Additionally, a household’s income is calculated by its gross income of all household earners before taxes and other payroll deductions.

The approximate income categories are as follows:

  • Acutely Low income:  0-15% of AMI

  • Extremely Low income:  16-30% of AMI

  • Very Low income:  31% to 50% of AMI

  • Low income:  51% to 80% of AMI (also used to mean 0-80% of AMI)

  • Moderate income:  81% to 120% of AMI

  • Above Moderate income: Over 120% of AMI

For example:

The AMI for a 4-person household is $94,500. To qualify for Very Low-income housing, the maximum household income is $46,600. The maximum income for Moderate-income housing is $113,400.


What is Senior and Entry-Level Housing Cost?

Senior and Entry-Level Housing Cost for low-income households is not more than 30 percent of gross household income with variations (Health and Safety Code Section 50052.5). The comparable federal limit, more widely used, is 30 percent of gross income, with variations.

Housing Cost commonly includes rent or mortgage payments, utilities (gas, electricity, water, sewer, garbage, recycling, organic waste), and property taxes and insurance on owner-occupied housing.

For example:

For rental tenants in a 4-person household, the maximum rent for Very Low-income is $1,181/month. The maximum rent for Moderate-income is $2,599/month.

For homeowners in a 4-person household, the maximum housing cost (mortgage, insurance, property tax, utilities) for Very Low-income is $1,181/month. The maximum housing cost for Moderate-income is $3,032/month.


Links:

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 

California Housing and Community Development (HCD)

Riverside County Housing Authority


Contact

City of La Quinta
RCamarena@laquintaca.gov
(760) 777-7046