Making Housing More Affordable

Utility Allowance

Housing Choice Voucher / Landlords

Effective: 7/1/2024


Public Housing Authorities are required to maintain a utility allowance schedule for tenant-paid utilities, tenant supplied refrigerators and ranges, and other tenant-paid housing services (such as trash collection).


The utility allowance schedule must include the utilities and services necessary to provide housing that complies with Housing Quality Standards (HQS). Utility allowance schedules should not include allowances for personal expenses, such as telephone, and nonessential utility costs such as the cost of cable or satellite TV. These schedules must be entered on form HUD-52667 and updated on an annual basis. 


The utility allowance schedule is determined based on the typical cost of utilities and services paid by energy-conservative households that occupy housing of a similar size and type in the same locality. The allowance is used in determining the family's share and the housing authority subsidy. 

View Board of Commissioners Letter Approved for Utility Allowances
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Multi-Family Utility Allowance Schedule

Multi-Family Utility Allowance Details
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Single-Family Utility Allowance Schedule

Single-Family Utility Allowance Details
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Energy Efficient Utility Allowance Schedule

Energy Efficient Utility Allowance Details

Multi-Family Utility Allowance Schedule

Effective Date: 07/1/2024 (Unit Type: Multi-Family (High-Rise/Garden/Apartment/Row House/Townhouse/Semi-Detached/Duplex)

Utility or Service: Standard                                  

                        Monthly Dollar Allowances           

Utility Notes 0 BR 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 5 BR
HEATING
a. Natural Gas $27 $32 $36 $39 $43 $47
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $69 $86 $95 $103 $112 $121
c. Electric $27 $32 $41 $50 $59 $68
d. Electric Heat Pump $24 $28 $33 $37 $41 $45
e. Oil
COOKING
a. Natural Gas $5 $5 $9 $11 $14 $16
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $13 $13 $22 $30 $39 $43
c. Electric $11 $13 $19 $25 $31 $37
OTHER ELECTRIC & COOLING
Other Electric (Lights & Appliances) Includes Climate Credit $33 $41 $60 $81 $105 $130
Air Conditioning $4 $5 $7 $9 $11 $13
WATER HEATING
a. Natural Gas $11 $13 $18 $25 $31 $36
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $30 $34 $47 $65 $82 $95
c. Electric $26 $31 $39 $48 $56 $65
d. Oil
WATER, SEWER, TRASH, COLLECTION
Water (Novato) $50 $51 $61 $71 $81 $93
(All Other) (avg) $52 $53 $65 $76 $88 $103
Sewer (Ocean Marin) $115 $115 $115 $115 $115 $115
Trash Collection (Novato) $18 $29 $29 $29 $58 $58
(All Other) (avg) $58 $58 $58 $58 $58 $58
TENANT-SUPPLIED APPLIANCES
Range / Microwave Tenant-supplied $11 $11 $11 $11 $11 $11
Refrigerator Tenant-supplied $12 $12 $12 $12 $12 $12
Other-specify: Monthly Charges
Natural Gas Charge $-7.12 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7
Download PDF version of Multi-Family Utility Allowance Schedule worksheet here

Single-Family Utility Allowance Schedule

Effective Date: 07/1/2024 (Unit Type: Single-Family (Detached House/Mobile Home)

Utility or Service: Standard                                  

                        Monthly Dollar Allowances           

Utility Notes 0 BR 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR 5 BR
HEATING
a. Natural Gas $38 $45 $50 $56 $63 $68
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $99 $116 $134 $147 $164 $177
c. Electric $58 $69 $78 $82 $103 $115
d. Electric Heat Pump $34 $40 $47 $53 $59 $65
e. Oil
COOKING
a. Natural Gas $5 $5 $9 $11 $14 $16
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $13 $13 $22 $30 $39 $43
c. Electric $11 $13 $19 $25 $31 $37
Other Electric & Cooling
Other Electric (Lights & Appliances) (Includes Climate Credit) $53 $64 $97 $133 $169 $205
Air Conditioning $3 $4 $9 $14 $19 $24
WATER HEATING
a. Natural Gas $14 $16 $23 $31 $39 $45
b. Bottle Gas/Propane $39 $43 $60 $82 $91 $116
c. Electric $33 $39 $49 $60 $71 $81
d. Oil
WATER, SEWER, TRASH, COLLECTION
Water (Novato) $50 $51 $61 $71 $81 $93
(avg) $52 $53 $65 $76 $88 $103
Sewer (Ocean Marin) $115 $115 $115 $115 $115 $115
Trash (Novato) $18 $29 $29 $29 $58 $58
Collection (avg) $58 $58 $58 $58 $58 $58
TENANT-SUPPLIED APPLIANCES
Range / Microwave Tenant-supplied $11 $11 $11 $11 $11 $11
Refrigerator Tenant-supplied $12 $12 $12 $12 $12 $12
Other - specify: Monthly Charges
Natural Gas Charge $-7.12 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7
Download PDF version of Energy Single Family Utility Allowance Schedule worksheet here

Energy Efficient Utility Allowance Schedule

Effective Date: 07/1/2024 (Unit Type: Energy Efficient Multi-Family)

Utility or Service: Standard                                  

                        Monthly Dollar Allowances           

Utility 0 BR 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR
HEATING
a. Natural Gas $25 $29 $32 $36
b. Bottle Gas/Propane N/A N/A N/A N/A
c. Electric $26 $34 $41 $49
d. Electric Heat Pump $23 $27 $30 $34
e. Oil
COOKING
a. Natural Gas $5 $7 $9 $11
b. Bottle Gas/Propane N/A N/A N/A N/A
c. Electric $11 $16 $21 $25
OTHER ELECTRIC & COOLING
Other Electric (Lights & Appliances) (Includes Climate Credit) $32 $48 $63 $81
Air Conditioning $4 $6 $7 $9
WATER HEATING
a. Natural Gas $11 $16 $20 $25
b. Bottle Gas/Propane N/A N/A N/A N/A
c. Electric $25 $32 $39 $46
d. Oil
WATER, SEWER, TRASH, COLLECTION
Water N/A N/A N/A N/A
Sewer (Ocean Marin) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Trash Collection N/A N/A N/A N/A
TENANT-SUPPLIED APPLIANCES
Range / Microwave Tenant-supplied $11 $11 $11 $11
Refrigerator Tenant-supplied $12 $12 $12 $12
OTHER-SPECIFY: MONHLY CHARGES
Natural Gas Charge $-7.12 -$7 -$7 -$7 -$7
Download PDF version of Energy Efficient Utility Allowance Schedule worksheet here
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