Below Market Rate Program

The City of Menlo Park’s Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program is a local affordable housing program designed to assist low income households.

This program began at Middle Plaza on May 2023, with 8 of our 215 apartments deemed as Below Market Rate apartments. Middle Plaza partners with the City of Menlo Park to certify applicants/residents.

Rent Restrictions: Per San Mateo County, the maximum rent for BMR rental apartments is published between February and May of each year, depending on when the State of California posts updated income figures. Maximum Allowable Rent shall not exceed a price affordable to lower income households, based on a housing cost of 30% of the monthly gross household income for the apartment's assumed household size.

New and Renewing Leases: must not exceed the published Maximum Allowable Rents in the current year. BMR units may be charged the following additional fees and utilities in addition to the rents: Water, Sewer, Storage, Pet and Parking. The additional charges and fees must be clearly stated in the Lease Agreement and all non-BMR units must be required to pay the same additional charges.

Income Restrictions: Per San Mateo County income limits requirements, the prospective resident's combined household income and assets shall not exceed the maximum limit for low-income households. Maximum income limits for low income are based on 80% of the area media income (AMI). Median Income is determined and published annually between February and May by the California Housing Community Development Department (HDC), depending on when the State of California posts updated income figures.