Section 8 in Houston, TX: FMR & Landlord Guide
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area (CBSA 26420). 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) | $885 | $797 – $974 |
| 1-bedroom | $891 | $802 – $980 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,095 | $986 – $1,205 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,523 | $1,371 – $1,675 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,837 | $1,653 – $2,021 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Houston, TX covers up to $1,095 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $986–$1,205.
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 Houston, TX
13 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Houston Housing Authority
Houston, TX · TX005 · 19,308 HCV units
- Status unknown
Harris County Housing Authority
Houston, TX · TX441 · 4,913 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Galveston
Galveston, TX · TX017 · 1,801 HCV units
- Status unknown
City of Pasadena Housing Assistance Program
Pasadena, TX · TX440 · 1,094 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Texas City
Texas City, TX · TX032 · 881 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Baytown
Baytown, TX · TX012 · 841 HCV units
- Status unknown
Brazoria County Housing Authority, TX
Angleton, TX · TX484 · 617 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Rosenberg
Rosenberg, TX · TX483 · 562 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of Montgomery County
Conroe, TX · TX560 · 400 HCV units
- Status unknown
Liberty County Housing Authority
Liberty, TX · TX505 · 271 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of Cleveland
Cleveland, TX · TX198 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Dayton
Dayton, TX · TX168 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Bellville
Bellville, TX · TX304 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in TX
TX state law explicitly preempts local ordinances requiring voucher acceptance. Landlords may legally decline Section 8 tenants.
Tex. Local Gov. Code §250.007 · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Houston, TX 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.