How Much Does Section 8 Pay in Tucson? (FY2027 Payment Standards by ZIP)
Ask what Section 8 pays in Tucson and the honest answer is "which ZIP code?" HUD requires housing authorities in the Tucson metro area to build their payment standards from Small Area Fair Market Rents, one figure per ZIP, rather than a single metro-wide number. In FY2027 the 2-bedroom figure runs from $1,100 in ZIP 85714 to $2,110 in ZIP 85755 across the 48 ZIP codes in Pima County, a gap of roughly half again.
This guide walks through the FY2027 figures by bedroom size, the math behind your share of the rent, and the housing authorities that administer vouchers in the Tucson metro area.
The FY2027 Numbers: Low ZIP vs. High ZIP
HUD's FY2027 Small Area FMRs are the basis for what the housing authorities in the Tucson metro area will pay. Two real ZIP codes in Pima County show the spread:
| Bedrooms | ZIP 85714 | ZIP 85755 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $770 | $1,470 |
| 1 BR | $860 | $1,640 |
| 2 BR | $1,100 | $2,110 |
| 3 BR | $1,520 | $2,920 |
| 4 BR | $1,730 | $3,320 |
Split the 48 ZIP codes in Pima County down the middle and the median 2-bedroom figure is $1,460, at ZIP 85654. For reference, HUD's metro-wide FMR for the Tucson, AZ area is $1,405 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 Tucson Section 8 guide list the ZIP-level data, and HUD's SAFMR dataset is the primary source.
Beyond Pima County: The Whole Metro
The Tucson, AZ area takes in 63 ZIP codes in the FY2027 data, and the range widens once you leave Pima County: the 2-bedroom figure runs from $1,100 in ZIP 85714 (Pima County) to $2,110 in ZIP 85755 (Pima County), with a metro-wide median of $1,410.
To see the full ladder rather than just the two ends, here are five ZIPs spread evenly across the 63 in the metro:
| ZIP | County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85714 | Pima County | $860 | $1,100 | $1,520 |
| 85709 | Pima County | $1,100 | $1,410 | $1,950 |
| 85745 | Pima County | $1,100 | $1,410 | $1,950 |
| 85750 | Pima County | $1,280 | $1,650 | $2,280 |
| 85755 | Pima County | $1,640 | $2,110 | $2,920 |
FY2026 to FY2027: The Change Effective October 1, 2026
HUD's metro-wide 2-bedroom FMR for Tucson went up 0.2% from FY2026 to FY2027: $1,402 to $1,405. Across the 70 ZIP codes HUD published in both years, the 2-bedroom figure rose in 45 and fell in 21, holding in 4. The steepest cut was ZIP 85654, $1,620 to $1,460; the biggest increase was ZIP 85757, $1,530 to $1,590. 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 Pima County of $1,460, the authority covers up to $740.
The ZIP-based system exists to let voucher holders reach higher-cost neighborhoods: a voucher that only stretches to $1,100 in one ZIP is worth $2,110 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.
Tucson Landlords: What the Standard Means for You
A voucher tenancy in Tucson 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.
Also non-negotiable: refusing a voucher holder is illegal in Tucson under the Tucson City Code §17-50 (2022). Source of income is a protected class, so "no vouchers" in an ad is itself a violation. Outside Tucson, Arizona has no statewide protection, so the rule changes at the city line.
Own rentals in the Tucson 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 Tucson
Which authority runs your voucher determines your paperwork, your inspections, and the exact payment standard applied. The largest programs in the Tucson metro area:
- Housing and Community Development Tucson, (520) 791-4171, about 5,000 vouchers
- Pima County Housing Authority, (520) 791-4171, about 890 vouchers
- Nogales Housing Authority, (520) 287-4183, about 200 vouchers
- South Tucson Housing Authority, (520) 623-8481, about 140 vouchers
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 2-bedroom Section 8 voucher worth in Tucson in FY2027? It depends on the ZIP code: HUD's FY2027 Small Area FMRs for 2-bedrooms range from $1,100 (85714) to $2,110 (85755) across the 48 ZIPs in Pima County, with a median around $1,460. Your PHA's payment standard is set from these figures.
Why does my voucher cover more in some neighborhoods than others? The Tucson 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 Tucson landlord refuse my voucher? No. Refusing an applicant because they pay with a voucher is illegal in Tucson under the Tucson City Code §17-50 (2022).
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 Tucson's own allowance schedules.
Where can I see the number for my exact ZIP? Our Tucson 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 Phoenix, and a Arizona Section 8 overview.
Searching in Tucson with a voucher? Browse voucher-friendly listings from landlords who want your business.
Tucson 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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