Section 8 Rent Limits in Maryland for FY2027: Fair Market Rent for Every County
What Section 8 pays in Maryland depends on the county. HUD sets a Fair Market Rent for each of the state's 24 counties (grouped into 8 metro and non-metro FMR areas), and every housing authority in Maryland builds its payment standard from that figure. For fiscal year 2027, the 2-bedroom FMR runs from $1,014 in Allegany County to $2,438 in Prince George's County, more than double. The statewide median county sits at $1,860.
Compared with FY2026, the 2-bedroom figure rose in 19 counties and fell in 5. The largest increase was Charles County ($2,246 to $2,438, +8.5%); the steepest cut was Calvert County ($2,083 to $1,890, -9.3%). Three metros in Maryland are on HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR list (Calvert County, MD; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD), where the limit is set ZIP code by ZIP code instead of by county; the county figure there is only an average.
Reading the table. These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the basis for payment standards, not the standards themselves. Each housing authority picks a point between 90% and 110% of the FMR for each bedroom size and publishes it as its payment standard. The voucher then pays the standard (or the actual gross rent, if lower) minus about 30% of your adjusted income. Utilities you pay yourself count against the ceiling through a utility allowance.
FY2027 Fair Market Rents by Metro Area in Maryland
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $1,523 | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Calvert County, MD (ZIP-level) | $1,630 | $1,666 | $1,890 | $2,617 | $2,959 | -9.3% |
| Hagerstown, MD | $894 | $982 | $1,284 | $1,714 | $1,923 | +1.8% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (ZIP-level) | $1,438 | $1,558 | $1,860 | $2,216 | $2,445 | +2.8% |
| Salisbury, MD | $1,095 | $1,102 | $1,428 | $1,870 | $1,877 | +3.6% |
| Somerset County, MD | $905 | $910 | $1,144 | $1,498 | $1,504 | -2.0% |
| St. Mary's County, MD | $1,328 | $1,642 | $1,787 | $2,242 | $2,853 | -2.5% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD (ZIP-level) | $2,111 | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 | +8.5% |
FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Every County in Maryland
All 24 counties, alphabetical. Studio figures are in the metro table above.
| County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | $888 | $1,014 | $1,383 | $1,468 | +4.2% |
| Anne Arundel County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Baltimore city | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Baltimore County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Calvert County | $1,666 | $1,890 | $2,617 | $2,959 | -9.3% |
| Caroline County | $1,009 | $1,320 | $1,623 | $2,188 | +0.5% |
| Carroll County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Cecil County | $1,558 | $1,860 | $2,216 | $2,445 | +2.8% |
| Charles County | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 | +8.5% |
| Dorchester County | $970 | $1,159 | $1,605 | $1,937 | +1.3% |
| Frederick County | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 | +8.5% |
| Garrett County | $877 | $1,014 | $1,339 | $1,344 | +4.2% |
| Harford County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Howard County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Kent County | $1,140 | $1,241 | $1,603 | $2,050 | -0.4% |
| Montgomery County | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 | +8.5% |
| Prince George's County | $2,204 | $2,438 | $3,107 | $3,658 | +8.5% |
| Queen Anne's County | $1,625 | $2,006 | $2,509 | $2,789 | +8.0% |
| Somerset County | $910 | $1,144 | $1,498 | $1,504 | -2.0% |
| St. Mary's County | $1,642 | $1,787 | $2,242 | $2,853 | -2.5% |
| Talbot County | $1,260 | $1,421 | $1,968 | $2,375 | +0.9% |
| Washington County | $982 | $1,284 | $1,714 | $1,923 | +1.8% |
| Wicomico County | $1,102 | $1,428 | $1,870 | $1,877 | +3.6% |
| Worcester County | $995 | $1,184 | $1,639 | $1,979 | -0.8% |
Where the Limit Moved Most From FY2026 to FY2027
Biggest increases (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles County | $2,246 | $2,438 | +8.5% |
| Frederick County | $2,246 | $2,438 | +8.5% |
| Montgomery County | $2,246 | $2,438 | +8.5% |
| Prince George's County | $2,246 | $2,438 | +8.5% |
| Anne Arundel County | $1,857 | $2,006 | +8.0% |
Biggest cuts (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert County | $2,083 | $1,890 | -9.3% |
| St. Mary's County | $1,833 | $1,787 | -2.5% |
| Somerset County | $1,167 | $1,144 | -2.0% |
| Worcester County | $1,194 | $1,184 | -0.8% |
| Kent County | $1,246 | $1,241 | -0.4% |
Two rules soften these swings: HUD will not let an FMR fall more than 10% in a year, and a housing authority can hold its payment standard anywhere up to 110% of the new figure. A cut shows up first in new leases and rent-increase requests, not in a lease already signed.
Where a Voucher Beats the Market in Maryland
Comparing HUD's 2-bedroom limit to Zillow's observed rent in the same ZIP code shows where a voucher actually stretches. In Maryland, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is the friendliest metro: the median ZIP's limit is +0.2% against market rent and 50% of its ZIPs have a limit above the going rent. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson is the hardest at -0.3%. "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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 74 | +0.2% | 50% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 84 | -0.3% | 46% |
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 Maryland
The largest voucher programs in Maryland, by vouchers administered. Each publishes its own payment standard table, usually a one-page PDF under its Housing Choice Voucher section:
- Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) (Baltimore), about 21,000 vouchers, (410) 396-3232, habc.org (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Housing Opportunity Commission of Montgomery County (Kensington), about 8,000 vouchers, (240) 627-9400
- Baltimore County Department of Housing and Community Development (Baltimore), about 6,700 vouchers, (410) 887-2766, baltimorecountymd.gov (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Housing Authority of Prince Georges County (Largo), about 6,000 vouchers, (301) 883-5552
- Maryland Department. of Housing and Community Development (Lanham), about 2,900 vouchers, (301) 429-7400
- Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (HCAAC) (Annapolis), about 2,800 vouchers, (410) 222-6200, hcaac.com (waitlist reported closed, details)
- Housing Authority of St. Mary'S County (Lexington Park), about 1,600 vouchers, (301) 880-7074
- Harford County Housing Agency (Bel Air), about 1,300 vouchers, (410) 638-3045
Can a Landlord Refuse a Voucher in Maryland?
No. Maryland protects source of income statewide (MD HOME Act (HB 231, effective October 2020)), 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 Maryland? It depends on the county. HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $1,014 in Allegany County to $2,438 in Prince George's County, with a median county of $1,860. 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 Maryland county has the highest Section 8 rent limit? Prince George's County, at $2,438 for a 2-bedroom ($3,107 for a 3-bedroom) in FY2027. The lowest is Allegany County at $1,014.
Did Section 8 rent limits go up in Maryland for FY2027? Mostly yes: the 2-bedroom figure rose in 19 counties, fell in 5, and held in 0. The biggest increase was Charles County (+8.5%). The biggest cut was Calvert County (-9.3%).
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Maryland? No. Maryland protects source of income statewide (MD HOME Act (HB 231, effective October 2020)), 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 Maryland authorities are listed above with phone numbers.
See also our Maryland Section 8 overview; metro guides for Baltimore; the national 2-bedroom table for the 40 largest metros; HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset.
Holding a voucher in Maryland? Browse voucher-friendly listings by ZIP code and bedroom size.
Maryland landlord? List your property free. The table above is what a voucher tenant's authority can pay.
Sources for this article (5)
- habc.org (habc.org)
- baltimorecountymd.gov (baltimorecountymd.gov)
- hcaac.com (hcaac.com)
- MD HOME Act (HB 231, effective October 2020) (mccr.maryland.gov)
- HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset (huduser.gov)
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