Section 8 Rent Limits in Illinois for FY2027: Fair Market Rent for Every County
Every county in Illinois 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 $930 in Carroll County and as high as $2,341 in Kendall County, with the median county at $956. Housing authorities set their payment standards within 90% to 110% of these numbers.
Year over year, 80 of the 102 counties with figures in both years went up and 22 went down. Marshall County had the biggest jump, $1,039 to $1,212 (+16.7%). Henry County took the biggest cut, $1,143 to $1,056 (-7.6%). Two metros in Illinois are on HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR list (Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL; St. Louis, MO-IL), 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 Illinois
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $941 | $996 | $1,287 | $1,685 | $1,691 | -1.2% |
| Bond County, IL | $682 | $899 | $979 | $1,275 | $1,287 | +6.9% |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $757 | $833 | $1,012 | $1,401 | $1,692 | +2.0% |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $983 | $996 | $1,173 | $1,474 | $1,542 | +4.5% |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL (ZIP-level) | $1,678 | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $787 | $852 | $1,056 | $1,396 | $1,697 | -7.6% |
| Decatur, IL | $851 | $857 | $1,091 | $1,407 | $1,724 | +2.6% |
| DeKalb County, IL | $1,052 | $1,155 | $1,481 | $2,006 | $2,301 | +7.9% |
| Ford County, IL | $706 | $711 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,399 | +1.5% |
| Grundy County, IL | $1,189 | $1,233 | $1,613 | $2,219 | $2,567 | +10.6% |
| Kankakee, IL | $939 | $1,031 | $1,349 | $1,775 | $1,876 | +1.7% |
| Kendall County, IL | $1,778 | $1,790 | $2,341 | $3,042 | $3,238 | +14.2% |
| Macoupin County, IL | $743 | $748 | $978 | $1,191 | $1,492 | +6.8% |
| Massac County, IL | $706 | $766 | $993 | $1,375 | $1,402 | +2.5% |
| Peoria, IL | $915 | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
| Rockford, IL | $816 | $896 | $1,172 | $1,542 | $1,578 | -0.3% |
| Springfield, IL | $861 | $977 | $1,237 | $1,631 | $1,728 | +2.8% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL (ZIP-level) | $1,064 | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Every County in Illinois
All 102 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 | $774 | $1,013 | $1,246 | $1,476 | -4.8% |
| Alexander County | $833 | $1,012 | $1,401 | $1,692 | +2.0% |
| Bond County | $899 | $979 | $1,275 | $1,287 | +6.9% |
| Boone County | $896 | $1,172 | $1,542 | $1,578 | -0.3% |
| Brown County | $829 | $1,084 | $1,357 | $1,566 | +2.0% |
| Bureau County | $750 | $981 | $1,217 | $1,352 | -5.2% |
| Calhoun County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Carroll County | $754 | $930 | $1,207 | $1,453 | +1.5% |
| Cass County | $854 | $930 | $1,278 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Champaign County | $996 | $1,173 | $1,474 | $1,542 | +4.5% |
| Christian County | $718 | $939 | $1,119 | $1,412 | -3.6% |
| Clark County | $773 | $1,011 | $1,205 | $1,461 | +0.2% |
| Clay County | $732 | $930 | $1,174 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Clinton County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Coles County | $742 | $950 | $1,231 | $1,342 | -1.6% |
| Cook County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Crawford County | $753 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Cumberland County | $733 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| De Witt County | $810 | $1,059 | $1,262 | $1,770 | +2.2% |
| DeKalb County | $1,155 | $1,481 | $2,006 | $2,301 | +7.9% |
| Douglas County | $847 | $930 | $1,234 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| DuPage County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Edgar County | $757 | $930 | $1,232 | $1,440 | +1.5% |
| Edwards County | $711 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,222 | +1.5% |
| Effingham County | $792 | $930 | $1,231 | $1,434 | +1.5% |
| Fayette County | $728 | $930 | $1,213 | $1,350 | +1.5% |
| Ford County | $711 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,399 | +1.5% |
| Franklin County | $711 | $930 | $1,225 | $1,315 | +1.5% |
| Fulton County | $727 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,303 | +1.5% |
| Gallatin County | $711 | $930 | $1,187 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Greene County | $738 | $965 | $1,196 | $1,489 | -2.7% |
| Grundy County | $1,233 | $1,613 | $2,219 | $2,567 | +10.6% |
| Hamilton County | $798 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Hancock County | $772 | $930 | $1,116 | $1,222 | +1.5% |
| Hardin County | $711 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Henderson County | $715 | $935 | $1,295 | $1,351 | +2.1% |
| Henry County | $852 | $1,056 | $1,396 | $1,697 | -7.6% |
| Iroquois County | $711 | $930 | $1,154 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Jackson County | $761 | $930 | $1,212 | $1,254 | +1.5% |
| Jasper County | $725 | $948 | $1,130 | $1,370 | +1.6% |
| Jefferson County | $766 | $994 | $1,186 | $1,320 | -3.1% |
| Jersey County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Jo Daviess County | $783 | $959 | $1,328 | $1,336 | +0.5% |
| Johnson County | $752 | $930 | $1,178 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Kane County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Kankakee County | $1,031 | $1,349 | $1,775 | $1,876 | +1.7% |
| Kendall County | $1,790 | $2,341 | $3,042 | $3,238 | +14.2% |
| Knox County | $711 | $930 | $1,204 | $1,241 | +1.5% |
| La Salle County | $804 | $1,052 | $1,369 | $1,688 | -2.5% |
| Lake County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Lawrence County | $721 | $943 | $1,153 | $1,239 | -0.3% |
| Lee County | $785 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,387 | +1.5% |
| Livingston County | $761 | $996 | $1,233 | $1,328 | -2.2% |
| Logan County | $757 | $962 | $1,146 | $1,264 | -2.6% |
| Macon County | $857 | $1,091 | $1,407 | $1,724 | +2.6% |
| Macoupin County | $748 | $978 | $1,191 | $1,492 | +6.8% |
| Madison County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Marion County | $767 | $930 | $1,210 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Marshall County | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
| Mason County | $711 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Massac County | $766 | $993 | $1,375 | $1,402 | +2.5% |
| McDonough County | $714 | $930 | $1,186 | $1,554 | -2.2% |
| McHenry County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| McLean County | $996 | $1,287 | $1,685 | $1,691 | -1.2% |
| Menard County | $977 | $1,237 | $1,631 | $1,728 | +2.8% |
| Mercer County | $852 | $1,056 | $1,396 | $1,697 | -7.6% |
| Monroe County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Montgomery County | $716 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,277 | -0.7% |
| Morgan County | $711 | $930 | $1,146 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Moultrie County | $711 | $930 | $1,288 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Ogle County | $826 | $1,080 | $1,291 | $1,649 | -3.4% |
| Peoria County | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
| Perry County | $711 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Piatt County | $996 | $1,173 | $1,474 | $1,542 | +4.5% |
| Pike County | $711 | $930 | $1,135 | $1,403 | +1.5% |
| Pope County | $837 | $1,095 | $1,387 | $1,582 | +0.7% |
| Pulaski County | $854 | $930 | $1,287 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Putnam County | $857 | $942 | $1,189 | $1,575 | +0.5% |
| Randolph County | $711 | $930 | $1,164 | $1,469 | +1.5% |
| Richland County | $715 | $935 | $1,114 | $1,358 | +2.1% |
| Rock Island County | $852 | $1,056 | $1,396 | $1,697 | -7.6% |
| Saline County | $757 | $930 | $1,197 | $1,308 | +1.1% |
| Sangamon County | $977 | $1,237 | $1,631 | $1,728 | +2.8% |
| Schuyler County | $854 | $930 | $1,189 | $1,344 | +1.5% |
| Scott County | $711 | $930 | $1,108 | $1,222 | +1.5% |
| Shelby County | $766 | $946 | $1,127 | $1,400 | -0.5% |
| St. Clair County | $1,104 | $1,349 | $1,731 | $1,997 | +10.8% |
| Stark County | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
| Stephenson County | $711 | $930 | $1,179 | $1,458 | +1.5% |
| Tazewell County | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
| Union County | $711 | $930 | $1,146 | $1,292 | +1.5% |
| Vermilion County | $748 | $956 | $1,278 | $1,337 | -1.8% |
| Wabash County | $758 | $992 | $1,374 | $1,433 | +8.3% |
| Warren County | $722 | $930 | $1,158 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| Washington County | $854 | $930 | $1,271 | $1,276 | +1.5% |
| Wayne County | $711 | $930 | $1,150 | $1,554 | +1.5% |
| White County | $730 | $930 | $1,233 | $1,516 | +1.5% |
| Whiteside County | $755 | $945 | $1,237 | $1,242 | +3.2% |
| Will County | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 | +12.9% |
| Williamson County | $761 | $996 | $1,304 | $1,309 | -4.0% |
| Winnebago County | $896 | $1,172 | $1,542 | $1,578 | -0.3% |
| Woodford County | $961 | $1,212 | $1,557 | $1,710 | +16.7% |
Where the Limit Moved Most From FY2026 to FY2027
Biggest increases (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | $1,039 | $1,212 | +16.7% |
| Peoria County | $1,039 | $1,212 | +16.7% |
| Stark County | $1,039 | $1,212 | +16.7% |
| Tazewell County | $1,039 | $1,212 | +16.7% |
| Woodford County | $1,039 | $1,212 | +16.7% |
Biggest cuts (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County | $1,143 | $1,056 | -7.6% |
| Mercer County | $1,143 | $1,056 | -7.6% |
| Rock Island County | $1,143 | $1,056 | -7.6% |
| Bureau County | $1,035 | $981 | -5.2% |
| Adams County | $1,064 | $1,013 | -4.8% |
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 Illinois
Comparing HUD's 2-bedroom limit to Zillow's observed rent in the same ZIP code shows where a voucher actually stretches. No Illinois metro with enough data has a positive median: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin comes closest, with the typical ZIP's limit -5.5% against market rent and 27% of its ZIPs above the going rent; St. Louis is the hardest at -8.9%. "Median premium" is the typical ZIP's rent limit minus market rent, as a percent of market rent.
| Metro | ZIPs with data | Median premium | ZIPs above market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 227 | -5.5% | 27% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 17 | -8.9% | 18% |
Even where the median is negative, the ZIPs above market are where voucher tenants and landlords match fastest. The national ranking is in our voucher-vs-market analysis.
The Largest Housing Authorities in Illinois
Which authority issued your voucher decides which payment standard applies. The biggest programs in the state:
- Chicago Housing Authority (Chicago), about 54,000 vouchers, (312) 742-8500, thecha.org (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Housing Authority of the County of Cook (HACC) (Chicago), about 14,000 vouchers, (312) 663-5447, thehacc.org (waitlist reported lottery, details)
- DuPage and Kendall Housing Authority (Wheaton), about 3,400 vouchers, (630) 690-3555, dupagehousing.org (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Lake County Housing Authority (Grayslake), about 3,300 vouchers, (847) 223-1170, lakecountyha.org (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Housing Authority of Joliet (Joliet), about 2,800 vouchers, (815) 727-0611, hajoliet.org (waitlist reported closed, details)
- St. Clair County Housing Authority (Belleville), about 2,700 vouchers, (618) 277-6988
- Springfield Housing Authority (Springfield), about 2,500 vouchers, (217) 753-5757
- Housing Authority of Champaign County (Champaign), about 2,400 vouchers, (217) 378-7100
Can a Landlord Refuse a Voucher in Illinois?
No. Illinois protects source of income statewide (Illinois Human Rights Act §5-102(A)), 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 Illinois? It depends on the county. HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $930 in Carroll County to $2,341 in Kendall County, with a median county of $956. 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 Illinois county has the highest Section 8 rent limit? Kendall County, at $2,341 for a 2-bedroom ($3,042 for a 3-bedroom) in FY2027. The lowest is Carroll County at $930.
Did Section 8 rent limits go up in Illinois for FY2027? Mostly yes: the 2-bedroom figure rose in 80 counties, fell in 22, and held in 0. The biggest increase was Marshall County (+16.7%). The biggest cut was Henry County (-7.6%).
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Illinois? No. Illinois protects source of income statewide (Illinois Human Rights Act §5-102(A)), 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 Illinois authorities are listed above with phone numbers.
See also our Illinois Section 8 overview; ZIP-level payment standards for Chicago; the national 2-bedroom table for the 40 largest metros; HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset.
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Holding a voucher in Illinois? Browse voucher-friendly listings by ZIP code and bedroom size.
Illinois landlord? List your property free. The table above is what a voucher tenant's authority can pay.
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