How Much Does Section 8 Pay in Denver? (2026 Payment Standards by ZIP)

Denver's Section 8 numbers for 2026 run from $1,930 for a 2-bedroom in southwest Denver's 80219 to $3,030 in downtown's 80202, set ZIP by ZIP, because Denver is a mandatory Small Area FMR metro. Add Colorado's statewide ban on voucher discrimination, and Denver is one of the more navigable big-city markets for voucher holders in the country.

Here's the 2026 data, the tenant math, and the agencies to know.

Denver's 2026 Numbers

Bracket ZIPs:

The median 2-bedroom figure across Denver's 21 ZIPs is $2,230 (ZIP 80204, the near-west side), against a Denver County countywide reference FMR of $2,089.

These FY2026 Small Area FMRs are the basis for payment standards; the Denver Housing Authority sets working standards within a band around each ZIP's figure (typically 90% to 110%), so confirm your ZIP's live number with your agency. ZIP-level detail is on our Denver Section 8 pages, raw data at HUD's SAFMR page.

What You Pay as a Tenant

The standard split: about 30% of your adjusted monthly income from you, the rest from the voucher up to your ZIP's standard. A household earning $2,200 a month contributes roughly $660; at the citywide median basis of $2,230, the program can carry around $1,570 of a median 2-bedroom, and up to the low $3,000s downtown.

Denver's spread between low and high ZIPs (about $1,100 on a 2-bedroom) is narrower than coastal metros, which means less cliff-effect between neighborhoods, but checking the next ZIP over is still worth a few hundred dollars in ceiling in several parts of the city.

Colorado Law: Statewide Protection

Colorado's HB19-1170 bans source-of-income discrimination in housing statewide. A Denver landlord cannot legally refuse you because your rent comes from a voucher, and "No Section 8" advertising violates the law.

As everywhere, the law sets the floor and the market sets the pace. Denver units under the ceiling draw competition, so the time-efficient search starts with landlords who already welcome vouchers: browse Denver listings on VoucherMatch.

Who Runs the Program

• Denver Housing Authority, 720-932-3000, about 8,100 vouchers, the city program
• Colorado Division of Housing, 303-864-7845, the state program, ~8,000 vouchers administered around Colorado
• Jefferson County Housing Authority, 303-422-8600
• Aurora Housing Authority, 720-251-2100

City, state, and suburban-county programs each have their own standards and waitlists.

For Landlords: The Denver Case

The 2026 ceilings track Denver's real market: $2,230 at the median, $3,030 downtown for a 2-bedroom. Voucher tenancies pay the agency's share monthly regardless of the tenant's job situation, applicants arrive pre-qualified at your rent level, and Colorado law removes "accept vouchers or not" from the decision anyway. The remaining choice is whether voucher holders can find you. A housing-quality inspection and rent-reasonableness review are the entry cost; both are routine for a maintained unit.

List your Denver property free and reach funded applicants directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a 2-bedroom Section 8 voucher worth in Denver in 2026? Between $1,930 and $3,030 depending on ZIP, with a citywide median around $2,230, per HUD's FY2026 Small Area FMRs. The DHA's payment standard is set from your ZIP's figure.

Is the Denver Section 8 waitlist or lottery open? Openings are periodic and announced by the Denver Housing Authority (720-932-3000) and the Colorado Division of Housing. Check both, and any suburban authority whose area you'd accept.

Can a Denver landlord refuse my voucher? No. Colorado's HB19-1170 prohibits source-of-income discrimination statewide.

Do the amounts include utilities? The ceiling is rent plus a utility allowance; tenant-paid utilities lower the approvable maximum, which matters through Colorado winters.

Where's my ZIP's exact figure? Our Denver ZIP pages list every number; the DHA confirms the live standard.

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Searching Denver with a voucher? Browse voucher-friendly listings.

Denver landlord? List free on VoucherMatch, funded tenants at market-tracking ceilings.