(Excerpted from the Affordable Housing Guidelines and County Code 13.10.681)

The maximum allowable rental price for Second Unit rentals (those units built under Section 13.10.631 of the County Code) is the higher of either the Lower Income Rental Unit amount (as published in the current Affordable Housing Guidelines) or the current Section 8 Fair Market Rent amount. This year, the Section 8 Fair Market Rent is the higher of the two so it constitutes the current rent limit for Second Units. Section 8 Fair Market Rent is shown in Table One. This limit is adjusted annually by the Housing Authority, according to federal housing guidelines established by HUD. The most current Fair Market Rents are always listed at the Santa Cruz County Housing Authority website www.hacosantacruz.org.

For Maximum Allowable Monthly Rents for Second Unit and Maximum Annual Household Incomes for Second Unit Tenants please refer to the Affordable Housing Guide pp. 9-11

(Check with the Planning Department for income limits for larger household sizes)

All maximum allowable rental prices include payment for all utilities by the landlord. If tenants pay for one or more utility services, the maximum allowable rental price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the utility allowances in the current Santa Cruz County Schedule of Utility Allowances (shown in Table Three). For PG&E allowance, add the amounts indicated for General Utilities, heating, cooking, and water heater use.

Table One: Schedule of Utility Allowances ⁽¹⁾
Effective October, 2007 - September 2008`