Section 8 in Columbia, SC: FMR & Landlord Guide
Columbia, SC metro area (CBSA 17900). 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) | $844 | $760 – $928 |
| 1-bedroom | $849 | $764 – $934 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,009 | $908 – $1,110 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,214 | $1,093 – $1,335 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,458 | $1,312 – $1,604 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Columbia, SC covers up to $1,009 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $908–$1,110.
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 Columbia, SC
3 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA
Columbia, SC · SC002 · 4,723 HCV units
- Status unknown
SC STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY
Columbia, SC · SC911 · 2,217 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Cayce
Columbia, SC · SC061 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in SC
Source-of-income protection status for SC 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 Columbia, SC 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.