What Are Local DPA Programs in California 2026?
Local DPA, meaning down payment assistance run by individual California cities and counties, is often the most generous assistance available, and it’s the layer most buyers don’t know to look for. Cities and counties build these programs specifically to keep teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and longtime residents from getting priced out of their own communities. The dollar amounts can be dramatic: San Francisco’s DALP offers up to $500,000 in shared-equity assistance, while Riverside County’s ARPA program runs up to $100,000 with 15-year forgiveness. Layered on top of state and federal options, local DPA can cut your out-of-pocket cash to almost nothing in the right county.
California has 58 counties and hundreds of municipalities, and not all of them run their own programs. Below is a working directory of what’s actually live across the major metros, plus rural alternatives like USDA loans where local DPA isn’t a fit.
California Local DPA Program Directory by Region
These are real programs you can apply for now or track for when applications reopen. Funding cycles, lottery dates, and income brackets change frequently, so call the contact listed before you build a financing plan around any one of them.
What DPA Programs Are Available in the Bay Area?
| Program | Location | Assistance Amount | Income Limit | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DALP (Downpayment Assistance Loan Program) | San Francisco | Up to $500,000 | 200% AMI (~$256,200 for 4-person household) | sf.gov/dalp or (415) 701-5500 |
| AC Boost | Alameda County | $160,000-$210,000 (shared appreciation loan) | 120% AMI | acboost.org or (510) 500-8840 |
| Empower Homebuyers SCC | Santa Clara County | Up to 17% of purchase price | 120% AMI | Housing Trust SV (408) 703-3837 |
| HEART of San Mateo County | San Mateo County | Up to $182,025 (15-year second lien) | Moderate income | heartofsmc.org |
| EDPAP | San Mateo County Employees | $100,000 loan + $5,000 grant | County employees only | housing.smcgov.org |
What DPA Programs Are Available in Southern California?
| Program | Location | Assistance Amount | Income Limit | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIPA | City of Los Angeles | Up to $161,000 | Low income | housing.lacity.gov or (323) 808-8808 |
| LACDA HOP | LA County (unincorporated) | $85,000-$100,000 | Varies by program | lacda.org or (626) 262-4510 |
| SDHC Low-Income | City of San Diego | Up to 19% of purchase price + $10,000 closing costs | 80% AMI | (619) 578-7788 or homeownership@sdhc.org |
| SDHC Middle-Income | City of San Diego | $40,000 loan + $10,000 closing costs grant | 80-150% AMI | (619) 578-7788 |
| San Diego County CalHome | San Diego County | Up to 22% of purchase price + 4% closing costs | 80% AMI | sandiegocounty.gov/sdhcd |
| Orange County MAP | Orange County | $40,000-$80,000 (3% simple interest, 30-year deferred) | 80% AMI | ochcd.org |
| NeighborWorks OC | Orange County | Various programs | Varies | nwoc.org or (714) 490-1250 |
What DPA Programs Are Available in the Inland Empire & Desert?
| Program | Location | Assistance Amount | Income Limit | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARPA FTHB | Riverside County | Up to $100,000 (20% of purchase price), includes $10,000 for closing | Low-moderate income | rivcohws.org/downpayment-assistance |
| 5th District Program | Riverside County (5th District) | Up to $100,000 with 15-year forgiveness | Varies | rivcohws.org/5th-district |
What DPA Programs Are Available in Central Valley & Sacramento?
| Program | Location | Assistance Amount | Income Limit | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHRA CalHome | Sacramento City/County | Varies (purchase price cap ~$344,000) | 80% AMI ($72,050 for 1 person, $102,900 for 4 persons) | shra.org or (916) 440-1390 |
| SHRA PLHA | Sacramento City/County | Varies (excludes incorporated cities with own programs) | 80% AMI | shra.org or (916) 440-1390 |
| OpenHome DPA | Fresno County | Up to $25,000 grant (no repayment) | 80% AMI | Beyond Housing Foundation |
| Fresno County 1st Time Homebuyer | Fresno County (unincorporated + select cities) | Up to 20% of purchase price + closing costs (zero-interest, 30-year deferred) | Varies | County Housing Authority |
What DPA Programs Are Available in Coastal & Ventura County?
| Program | Location | Assistance Amount | Income Limit | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VCCDC Camarillo | Camarillo | Up to $40,000 forgivable grant (10-year forgiveness) | 80% AMI | vccdc.org/dpa |
| VCCDC Oxnard | Oxnard | Up to $40,000 forgivable grant (10-year forgiveness) | 80% AMI | vccdc.org/dpa |
| VCCDC Santa Paula | Santa Paula (Harvest at Limoneira development) | Up to $23,000 (30-year deferred loan) | 150% AMI | vccdc.org/dpa |
| VCCDC CalHome | Ventura County | Up to $40,000 (30-year deferred loan) | 80% AMI | vccdc.org/dpa |
Program status notes: Many local programs run on lottery systems or first-come, first-served funding with annual caps. San Francisco DALP 2025 applications closed June 2, 2025. AC Boost completed its final funding round in 2024. Always verify current status and funding availability with the program administrator before building a financing plan around any of these.
How Local DPA Programs Are Structured and Who Qualifies
Most local DPA is structured as a deferred second mortgage with no monthly payment during ownership. Repayment is triggered when you sell, refinance, or transfer the property, and forgiveness windows run anywhere from 5 to 30 years depending on the program. Interest rates range from zero (true grants) to simple interest well below market. Some programs add a shared-appreciation feature, which means the city captures a slice of any future value increase as part of the repayment.
Eligibility almost always requires a connection to the jurisdiction. You live there, work there, or were displaced from there. Income limits follow Area Median Income formulas, typically 80% to 150% AMI, with priority frequently given to teachers, firefighters, police, and healthcare workers. First-time buyer status (no ownership in the past 3 years) is also standard, and the property must sit inside the program’s boundary. If you’re a first-time buyer or veteran, the underlying loan side often unlocks even more options.
A note on essential-worker preferences: when you apply to any local DPA program, always identify your occupation upfront. Many programs maintain separate funding pools or scoring preferences for educators and first responders that aren’t loudly advertised. Worth a phone call to your employer’s HR department too, since some agencies have direct partnerships with local housing authorities.
How Do You Apply to a Local DPA Program?
- Identify the right programs. Use the directory above. Check programs where you live, where you work, and where you were displaced from. City housing department sites, county housing authority sites, the 211 hotline, and HUD counseling agencies are all useful starting points.
- Verify funding is open. Lottery programs like SF DALP only open in specific windows (March-June annually). Sacramento SHRA runs continuously. Call ahead before assuming a program is taking applications.
- Complete homebuyer education. Most programs require an 8-10 hour course through a HUD-approved provider (Framework Homeownership, eHome America, Money Management International). Mandatory before closing.
- Get pre-qualified with an approved lender. Each program lists its approved lender network; we work with most of them. (510) 589-4096.
- Submit a complete application. Standard package: 2 years of tax returns, 30 days of pay stubs, 2 months of bank statements, homebuyer education certificate, photo ID, employment verification.
- Wait for approval. Lottery programs take longer. First-come, first-served programs move faster. Ongoing programs through approved lenders (like Sacramento) often have the smoothest pipeline.
After approval, the compliance side is straightforward: on-time payments, primary residence occupancy, basic property maintenance, and documentation retention.
Can You Stack Local DPA with Other Programs?
Yes, and the stack is where these programs really earn their keep. Local DPA combines cleanly with CalHFA, FHA, VA, and conventional financing, plus employer assistance, gift funds, and Mortgage Credit Certificates. The right combination can knock total out-of-pocket cash down to little more than earnest money in some California markets. If timing across a sale and a purchase is part of your situation, a bridge loan can plug the gap while DPA paperwork clears.
Rates change daily based on your credit, down payment, and property type. Contact us for your personalized rate quote.
Next Steps
Every local DPA situation hinges on three things: which programs are currently funded in your county, which you qualify for based on income and occupation, and which other layers (CalHFA, MCC, employer programs) can stack on top. Call (510) 589-4096 and we’ll work through the directory above against your numbers and target counties to find the cleanest combination. Or browse the rest of our down payment assistance programs.
Explore More Down Payment Assistance
Not sure if local DPA fits your situation? Compare our other down payment assistance programs including our no money down program (forgiven after 6 months, no income caps), CalHFA MyHome/ZIP (statewide availability), Elite Grant (quick forgiveness), and Mortgage Credit Certificates (annual tax savings) to find the perfect assistance for your California home purchase.
