Section 8 Rent Limits in Colorado for FY2027: Fair Market Rent for Every County
Every county in Colorado has its own Section 8 rent ceiling, and the full FY2027 list is below. HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents are effective October 1, 2026; the 2-bedroom figure is as low as $1,014 in Baca County and as high as $2,766 in Summit County, with the median county at $1,344. Housing authorities set their payment standards within 90% to 110% of these numbers.
Year over year, 59 of the 64 counties with figures in both years went up and 5 went down. Jackson County had the biggest jump, $989 to $1,485 (+50.2%). El Paso County took the biggest cut, $1,735 to $1,621 (-6.6%). Two metros in Colorado are on HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR list (Colorado Springs, CO; Pueblo, CO), where the limit is set ZIP code by ZIP code instead of by county; the county figure there is only an average.
How the number becomes your rent limit. The FMR is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit in the area. Your housing authority publishes a payment standard for each bedroom size, between 90% and 110% of the FMR. You pay roughly 30% of adjusted monthly income; the voucher covers the rest up to the payment standard. If the unit's gross rent is above the standard, you pay the difference, but a new lease cannot leave your share above 40% of income.
FY2027 Fair Market Rents by Metro Area in Colorado
HUD groups counties into FMR areas; a metro's figure applies to every county inside it. "ZIP-level" marks mandatory Small Area FMR metros.
| FMR area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $1,520 | $1,735 | $2,033 | $2,703 | $3,146 | -4.3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO (ZIP-level) | $1,129 | $1,380 | $1,621 | $2,245 | $2,574 | -6.6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $1,751 | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $1,551 | $1,589 | $1,759 | $2,379 | $2,576 | +1.6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | $893 | $1,017 | $1,282 | $1,775 | $2,143 | +2.6% |
| Greeley, CO | $1,240 | $1,307 | $1,647 | $2,281 | $2,753 | +5.4% |
| Pueblo, CO (ZIP-level) | $879 | $978 | $1,263 | $1,611 | $1,891 | -0.5% |
| Teller County, CO | $1,026 | $1,354 | $1,474 | $2,041 | $2,346 | -1.3% |
FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Every County in Colorado
All 64 counties, alphabetical. Studio figures are in the metro table above.
| County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Alamosa County | $949 | $1,149 | $1,570 | $1,920 | +15.0% |
| Arapahoe County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Archuleta County | $1,260 | $1,542 | $2,135 | $2,577 | +15.3% |
| Baca County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,575 | +4.2% |
| Bent County | $879 | $1,150 | $1,592 | $1,786 | +12.9% |
| Boulder County | $1,735 | $2,033 | $2,703 | $3,146 | -4.3% |
| Broomfield County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Chaffee County | $1,342 | $1,755 | $2,362 | $2,725 | +19.7% |
| Cheyenne County | $898 | $1,167 | $1,545 | $1,812 | +11.8% |
| Clear Creek County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Conejos County | $922 | $1,014 | $1,390 | $1,395 | +4.2% |
| Costilla County | $781 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,575 | +4.2% |
| Crowley County | $1,074 | $1,405 | $1,674 | $2,182 | +9.0% |
| Custer County | $970 | $1,202 | $1,432 | $1,867 | +8.1% |
| Delta County | $972 | $1,266 | $1,753 | $2,105 | +13.6% |
| Denver County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Dolores County | $1,224 | $1,332 | $1,716 | $2,068 | +19.5% |
| Douglas County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Eagle County | $1,993 | $2,607 | $3,106 | $4,357 | +9.6% |
| El Paso County | $1,380 | $1,621 | $2,245 | $2,574 | -6.6% |
| Elbert County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Fremont County | $1,098 | $1,436 | $1,794 | $2,230 | +15.4% |
| Garfield County | $1,387 | $1,781 | $2,466 | $2,477 | +11.0% |
| Gilpin County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Grand County | $1,464 | $1,844 | $2,197 | $2,617 | +25.0% |
| Gunnison County | $1,276 | $1,437 | $1,990 | $2,231 | +7.7% |
| Hinsdale County | $1,013 | $1,316 | $1,696 | $2,044 | +14.9% |
| Huerfano County | $859 | $1,116 | $1,438 | $1,733 | +10.2% |
| Jackson County | $1,143 | $1,485 | $1,913 | $2,306 | +50.2% |
| Jefferson County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Kiowa County | $1,015 | $1,319 | $1,700 | $2,048 | +15.1% |
| Kit Carson County | $1,058 | $1,241 | $1,479 | $1,927 | +13.5% |
| La Plata County | $1,392 | $1,821 | $2,209 | $2,393 | +14.6% |
| Lake County | $1,143 | $1,485 | $1,913 | $2,306 | +10.6% |
| Larimer County | $1,589 | $1,759 | $2,379 | $2,576 | +1.6% |
| Las Animas County | $1,000 | $1,291 | $1,620 | $1,719 | +11.8% |
| Lincoln County | $818 | $1,070 | $1,482 | $1,662 | +5.3% |
| Logan County | $955 | $1,249 | $1,650 | $1,707 | +13.4% |
| Mesa County | $1,017 | $1,282 | $1,775 | $2,143 | +2.6% |
| Mineral County | $1,143 | $1,485 | $1,913 | $2,306 | +10.6% |
| Moffat County | $936 | $1,225 | $1,586 | $1,992 | +5.2% |
| Montezuma County | $1,025 | $1,280 | $1,772 | $1,988 | +8.5% |
| Montrose County | $1,054 | $1,321 | $1,829 | $2,208 | +13.1% |
| Morgan County | $964 | $1,261 | $1,746 | $1,959 | +8.7% |
| Otero County | $810 | $1,059 | $1,359 | $1,770 | +8.8% |
| Ouray County | $1,507 | $1,640 | $2,271 | $2,547 | +7.5% |
| Park County | $1,831 | $2,169 | $2,846 | $3,183 | +3.8% |
| Phillips County | $875 | $1,137 | $1,465 | $1,766 | +7.9% |
| Pitkin County | $2,169 | $2,597 | $3,346 | $4,033 | +17.3% |
| Prowers County | $907 | $1,050 | $1,419 | $1,631 | +7.9% |
| Pueblo County | $978 | $1,263 | $1,611 | $1,891 | -0.5% |
| Rio Blanco County | $891 | $1,165 | $1,488 | $1,809 | +15.5% |
| Rio Grande County | $939 | $1,220 | $1,454 | $1,895 | +11.5% |
| Routt County | $2,119 | $2,384 | $2,841 | $3,702 | +17.9% |
| Saguache County | $957 | $1,059 | $1,466 | $1,645 | +8.6% |
| San Juan County | $1,035 | $1,344 | $1,620 | $2,087 | +9.5% |
| San Miguel County | $1,377 | $1,631 | $2,258 | $2,533 | -0.9% |
| Sedgwick County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,575 | +4.2% |
| Summit County | $2,114 | $2,766 | $3,296 | $3,749 | +12.1% |
| Teller County | $1,354 | $1,474 | $2,041 | $2,346 | -1.3% |
| Washington County | $991 | $1,297 | $1,545 | $1,705 | +16.4% |
| Weld County | $1,307 | $1,647 | $2,281 | $2,753 | +5.4% |
| Yuma County | $865 | $1,132 | $1,530 | $1,758 | +6.7% |
Where the Limit Moved Most From FY2026 to FY2027
Biggest increases (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | $989 | $1,485 | +50.2% |
| Grand County | $1,475 | $1,844 | +25.0% |
| Chaffee County | $1,466 | $1,755 | +19.7% |
| Dolores County | $1,115 | $1,332 | +19.5% |
| Routt County | $2,022 | $2,384 | +17.9% |
Biggest cuts (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | $1,735 | $1,621 | -6.6% |
| Boulder County | $2,124 | $2,033 | -4.3% |
| Teller County | $1,493 | $1,474 | -1.3% |
| San Miguel County | $1,645 | $1,631 | -0.9% |
| Pueblo County | $1,269 | $1,263 | -0.5% |
HUD caps a one-year decrease at 10%, so a county showing exactly -10.0% hit the floor. A lower FMR does not change an existing lease; it narrows the band for new leases and rent increases, and a reduced payment standard reaches a family already housed only at its second annual reexamination after the change.
Where a Voucher Beats the Market in Colorado
A rent limit only matters against what landlords actually charge. We ran HUD's 2-bedroom figure against Zillow's observed rent for every ZIP with data in Colorado. Colorado Springs comes out best, with the typical ZIP's limit +5.6% versus market and 57% of ZIPs above it; Denver-Aurora-Lakewood is toughest at +4.1%. Positive means the voucher covers market rent in the typical ZIP.
| Metro | ZIPs with data | Median premium | ZIPs above market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 28 | +5.6% | 57% |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 93 | +4.1% | 61% |
Landlords in the positive-premium metros are leaving money on the table by turning away vouchers; the authority's rent reasonableness check still applies, so you will be approved at market, not above it. The national ranking is in our voucher-vs-market analysis.
The Largest Housing Authorities in Colorado
Which authority issued your voucher decides which payment standard applies. The biggest programs in the state:
- Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver (Denver), about 8,100 vouchers, (720) 932-3000
- Colorado Division of Housing (Denver), about 8,000 vouchers, (303) 864-7845
- Housing Authority of the City of Colorado Springs (Colorado Springs), about 2,300 vouchers, (719) 387-6700
- Jefferson County Housing Authority (Wheat Ridge), about 1,900 vouchers, (303) 422-8600
- Aurora Housing Authority (Aurora), about 1,800 vouchers, (720) 251-2100
- Housing Authority of the City of Pueblo (Pueblo), about 1,600 vouchers, (719) 542-6741
- Housing Catalyst (Fort Collins), about 1,600 vouchers, (970) 416-2910
- Adams County Housing Authority (Westminster), about 1,600 vouchers, (303) 227-2075
Can a Landlord Refuse a Voucher in Colorado?
No. Colorado protects source of income statewide (Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, C.R.S. §24-34-502 (2021)), so refusing an applicant because they pay with a voucher is illegal anywhere in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Section 8 pay in Colorado? It depends on the county. HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $1,014 in Baca County to $2,766 in Summit County, with a median county of $1,344. Your housing authority's payment standard is 90% to 110% of the figure for your county, and the voucher pays that standard minus about 30% of your adjusted income.
Which Colorado county has the highest Section 8 rent limit? Summit County, at $2,766 for a 2-bedroom ($3,296 for a 3-bedroom) in FY2027. The lowest is Baca County at $1,014.
Did Section 8 rent limits go up in Colorado for FY2027? Mostly yes: the 2-bedroom figure rose in 59 counties, fell in 5, and held in 0. The biggest increase was Jackson County (+50.2%). The biggest cut was El Paso County (-6.6%).
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Colorado? No. Colorado protects source of income statewide (Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, C.R.S. §24-34-502 (2021)), so refusing an applicant because they pay with a voucher is illegal anywhere in the state.
Where is my housing authority's actual payment standard? On the authority's website, usually a one-page PDF updated each fall, or by calling its Housing Choice Voucher office. The largest Colorado authorities are listed above with phone numbers.
See also our Colorado Section 8 overview; ZIP-level payment standards for Denver; metro guides for Colorado Springs; the national 2-bedroom table for the 40 largest metros; HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset.
Holding a voucher in Colorado? Browse voucher-friendly listings by ZIP code and bedroom size.
Colorado landlord? List your property free. The table above is what a voucher tenant's authority can pay.
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