Section 8 in Charleston, WV: FMR & Landlord Guide
Charleston, WV metro area (CBSA 16620). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $669 | $602 – $736 |
| 1-bedroom | $674 | $607 – $741 |
| 2-bedroom | $869 | $782 – $956 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,195 | $1,076 – $1,315 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,458 | $1,312 – $1,604 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Charleston, WV covers up to $869 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $782–$956.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Charleston, WV
5 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority
Charleston, WV · WV001 · 3,213 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of Boone County
Danville, WV · WV042 · 501 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Dunbar
Dunbar, WV · WV024 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of South Charleston
South Charleston, WV · WV022 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of St. Albans
Saint Albans, WV · WV021 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in WV
Source-of-income protection status for WV is not yet in our database. Check with a local attorney or the state civil-rights office before refusing a voucher applicant.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Charleston, WV property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.