How Much Does Section 8 Pay in Jacksonville? (FY2027 Payment Standards by ZIP)
There is no single Section 8 rent number for Jacksonville, and anyone who quotes one is skipping the most important fact about the program here: the Jacksonville metro area is a mandatory Small Area FMR metro, which means the subsidy ceiling is set ZIP code by ZIP code. For a 2-bedroom in FY2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rents across the 36 ZIP codes in Duval County run from $1,150 in ZIP 32206 to $2,540 in ZIP 32226, more than double.
Below: the full spread by bedroom size, what your share of the rent actually is, who runs the program in Jacksonville, and what landlords here should know.
The FY2027 Numbers: Low ZIP vs. High ZIP
Two ZIP codes at opposite ends of Duval County show how far the FY2027 figures move:
| Bedrooms | ZIP 32206 | ZIP 32226 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $950 | $2,100 |
| 1 BR | $960 | $2,130 |
| 2 BR | $1,150 | $2,540 |
| 3 BR | $1,410 | $3,110 |
| 4 BR | $1,760 | $3,890 |
Split the 36 ZIP codes in Duval County down the middle and the median 2-bedroom figure is $1,660, at ZIP 32203. For reference, HUD's metro-wide FMR for the Jacksonville, FL area is $1,694 for a 2-bedroom, which is roughly what every ZIP would get if the metro weren't a Small Area FMR area.
Treat these as the starting point, not the final word. A payment standard is set by each housing authority, usually somewhere between 90% and 110% of HUD's figure, and it can differ by authority inside the same metro. Check the number for your ZIP and bedroom size with the PHA that issued your voucher. Our Jacksonville Section 8 guide list the ZIP-level data, and HUD's SAFMR dataset is the primary source.
Beyond Duval County: The Whole Metro
The Jacksonville, FL area takes in 82 ZIP codes in the FY2027 data, and the range widens once you leave Duval County: the 2-bedroom figure runs from $980 in ZIP 32091 to $2,540 in ZIP 32259 (St. Johns County), with a metro-wide median of $1,660.
To see the full ladder rather than just the two ends, here are five ZIPs spread evenly across the 82 in the metro:
| ZIP | County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32087 | Baker County | $830 | $1,000 | $1,370 |
| 32208 | Duval County | $1,190 | $1,420 | $1,740 |
| 32240 | , | $1,390 | $1,660 | $2,030 |
| 32065 | Clay County | $1,650 | $1,970 | $2,410 |
| 32259 | St. Johns County | $2,130 | $2,540 | $3,110 |
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FY2026 to FY2027: The Change Effective October 1, 2026
HUD's metro-wide 2-bedroom FMR for Jacksonville went up 2.2% from FY2026 to FY2027: $1,658 to $1,694. Across the 82 ZIP codes HUD published in both years, the 2-bedroom figure rose in 56 and fell in 21, holding in 5. The steepest cut was ZIP 32666, $1,100 to $990; the biggest increase was ZIP 32095, $1,690 to $2,150. Higher FMRs give the housing authority room to raise its payment standard, which usually shows up in approvable rents a few months after the fiscal year starts on October 1.
What You Actually Pay as a Tenant
The formula is the same everywhere in the country: you pay roughly 30% of adjusted monthly income, and the housing assistance payment fills the gap up to the standard for your ZIP and unit size. A household bringing in $2,400 a month pays about $720; at the median 2-bedroom figure for Duval County of $1,660, the authority covers up to $940.
The ZIP-based system exists to let voucher holders reach higher-cost neighborhoods: a voucher that only stretches to $1,150 in one ZIP is worth $2,540 in another, and your own payment doesn't move with it. If a landlord asks for more than the standard, you can sometimes pay the difference yourself, but the authority caps your total share at 40% of income at move-in.
Jacksonville Landlords: What the Standard Means for You
A voucher tenancy in Jacksonville means the authority pays its share directly every month, the unit passes an inspection up front, and turnover is typically lower than market-rate. Where the ZIP-level standard is close to market rent, that stability is the whole pitch; where the standard runs below market, you can still list and let the PHA's rent reasonableness review decide.
Florida law blocks cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept vouchers (Florida HB 1417 (2023) preempts local tenant regulation; county source-of-income ordinances (Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas) are of uncertain effect), so acceptance in Jacksonville is voluntary. Federal fair-housing law still applies.
Own rentals in the Jacksonville metro area? List them free on VoucherMatch; tenants here search by ZIP code and voucher type.
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Who Administers Section 8 in Jacksonville
Which authority runs your voucher determines your paperwork, your inspections, and the exact payment standard applied. The largest programs in the Jacksonville metro area:
- Jacksonville Housing Authority, (904) 630-3810, about 8,500 vouchers
- Palatka Housing Authority, (386) 329-0132, about 410 vouchers
- Baker County Housing Assistance Program, (904) 259-3287, about 150 vouchers
- Macclenny Housing Authority, (904) 259-6881
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 2-bedroom Section 8 voucher worth in Jacksonville in FY2027? It depends on the ZIP code: HUD's FY2027 Small Area FMRs for 2-bedrooms range from $1,150 (32206) to $2,540 (32226) across the 36 ZIPs in Duval County, with a median around $1,660. Your PHA's payment standard is set from these figures.
Why does my voucher cover more in some neighborhoods than others? The Jacksonville metro area is a mandatory Small Area FMR metro, so HUD publishes a separate FMR for every ZIP code instead of one metro-wide number. The ceiling moves with local rents.
Can a Jacksonville landlord refuse my voucher? Generally yes. Florida preempts local source-of-income ordinances, so voucher acceptance is voluntary, though federal fair-housing protections still apply.
Do these numbers include utilities? The standards assume rent plus a utility allowance fit within the ceiling. If you pay utilities yourself, the approvable rent drops by the allowance for your unit size. The mechanics are the same ones we cover in our utility allowance guide, with Jacksonville's own allowance schedules.
Where can I see the number for my exact ZIP? Our Jacksonville Section 8 guide list payment data ZIP by ZIP, or check HUD's SAFMR lookup and confirm with your housing authority.
Comparing metros? We have the same breakdown for Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and a Florida Section 8 overview.
Searching in Jacksonville with a voucher? Browse voucher-friendly listings from landlords who want your business.
Jacksonville landlord? List your property free. In much of the metro, the voucher pays at or close to market.
VoucherMatch Editorial Team
Every rule, date and dollar amount in this article is checked against the agency document it comes from, and the sources are listed above. How VoucherMatch articles are researched and corrected
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