Section 8 Rent Limits in Minnesota for FY2027: Fair Market Rent for Every County
What Section 8 pays in Minnesota depends on the county. HUD sets a Fair Market Rent for each of the state's 87 counties (grouped into 13 metro and non-metro FMR areas), and every housing authority in Minnesota builds its payment standard from that figure. For fiscal year 2027, the 2-bedroom FMR runs from $1,014 in Big Stone County to $1,734 in Wright County, about half again as much. The statewide median county sits at $1,048.
Compared with FY2026, the 2-bedroom figure rose in 81 counties and fell in 6. The largest increase was Houston County ($1,166 to $1,343, +15.2%); the steepest cut was Polk County ($1,089 to $1,014, -6.9%). One metro in Minnesota is on HUD's mandatory Small Area FMR list (Fargo, ND-MN), 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 Minnesota
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $841 | $961 | $1,207 | $1,671 | $2,017 | -2.0% |
| Fargo, ND-MN (ZIP-level) | $781 | $903 | $1,104 | $1,529 | $1,845 | -0.7% |
| Fillmore County, MN | $770 | $775 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | -0.8% |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $816 | $821 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | -6.9% |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $935 | $1,027 | $1,343 | $1,721 | $2,167 | +15.2% |
| Le Sueur County, MN | $801 | $839 | $1,098 | $1,520 | $1,708 | +1.9% |
| Mankato, MN | $1,016 | $1,023 | $1,230 | $1,703 | $1,744 | +5.0% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | $820 | $870 | $1,124 | $1,351 | $1,879 | +0.1% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $1,265 | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Rochester, MN | $1,183 | $1,226 | $1,422 | $1,969 | $2,377 | +1.1% |
| Rock County, MN | $770 | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,501 | +4.2% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $884 | $961 | $1,233 | $1,656 | $1,961 | +2.2% |
| Wabasha County, MN | $894 | $931 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,512 | +1.3% |
FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Every County in Minnesota
All 87 counties, alphabetical. Studio figures are in the metro table above.
| County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin County | $801 | $1,048 | $1,451 | $1,515 | +7.7% |
| Anoka County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Becker County | $845 | $1,105 | $1,451 | $1,621 | +7.6% |
| Beltrami County | $940 | $1,230 | $1,466 | $2,041 | +8.4% |
| Benton County | $961 | $1,233 | $1,656 | $1,961 | +2.2% |
| Big Stone County | $828 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Blue Earth County | $1,023 | $1,230 | $1,703 | $1,744 | +5.0% |
| Brown County | $819 | $1,071 | $1,282 | $1,717 | +10.1% |
| Carlton County | $961 | $1,207 | $1,671 | $2,017 | -2.0% |
| Carver County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Cass County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,335 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Chippewa County | $784 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,443 | +4.2% |
| Chisago County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Clay County | $903 | $1,104 | $1,529 | $1,845 | -0.7% |
| Clearwater County | $805 | $1,014 | $1,210 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Cook County | $939 | $1,022 | $1,415 | $1,492 | +5.0% |
| Cottonwood County | $824 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Crow Wing County | $899 | $1,172 | $1,407 | $1,609 | +4.6% |
| Dakota County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Dodge County | $1,226 | $1,422 | $1,969 | $2,377 | +1.1% |
| Douglas County | $785 | $1,027 | $1,422 | $1,500 | +3.6% |
| Faribault County | $859 | $1,014 | $1,386 | $1,391 | +4.2% |
| Fillmore County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | -0.8% |
| Freeborn County | $790 | $1,033 | $1,355 | $1,555 | +6.1% |
| Goodhue County | $966 | $1,172 | $1,613 | $1,959 | +7.0% |
| Grant County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,260 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Hennepin County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Houston County | $1,027 | $1,343 | $1,721 | $2,167 | +15.2% |
| Hubbard County | $780 | $1,020 | $1,412 | $1,705 | +1.2% |
| Isanti County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Itasca County | $924 | $1,164 | $1,509 | $1,635 | +8.4% |
| Jackson County | $922 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Kanabec County | $924 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,487 | +4.2% |
| Kandiyohi County | $836 | $1,026 | $1,421 | $1,715 | +5.4% |
| Kittson County | $791 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Koochiching County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,238 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Lac qui Parle County | $841 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Lake County | $1,038 | $1,358 | $1,618 | $1,983 | +6.3% |
| Lake of the Woods County | $882 | $1,154 | $1,375 | $1,685 | +13.8% |
| Le Sueur County | $839 | $1,098 | $1,520 | $1,708 | +1.9% |
| Lincoln County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,291 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Lyon County | $870 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Mahnomen County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,270 | $1,544 | +4.2% |
| Marshall County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,281 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Martin County | $844 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| McLeod County | $951 | $1,073 | $1,278 | $1,593 | +7.4% |
| Meeker County | $954 | $1,089 | $1,490 | $1,495 | +9.2% |
| Mille Lacs County | $870 | $1,124 | $1,351 | $1,879 | +0.1% |
| Morrison County | $789 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,484 | +4.2% |
| Mower County | $826 | $1,080 | $1,440 | $1,445 | +3.0% |
| Murray County | $931 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,420 | +4.2% |
| Nicollet County | $1,023 | $1,230 | $1,703 | $1,744 | +5.0% |
| Nobles County | $823 | $1,076 | $1,426 | $1,508 | +2.6% |
| Norman County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,208 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Olmsted County | $1,226 | $1,422 | $1,969 | $2,377 | +1.1% |
| Otter Tail County | $819 | $1,071 | $1,476 | $1,489 | +9.0% |
| Pennington County | $873 | $1,142 | $1,564 | $1,668 | +1.8% |
| Pine County | $838 | $1,096 | $1,306 | $1,496 | -0.5% |
| Pipestone County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,209 | $1,488 | +4.2% |
| Polk County | $821 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | -6.9% |
| Pope County | $832 | $1,088 | $1,325 | $1,430 | +3.3% |
| Ramsey County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Red Lake County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Redwood County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,389 | $1,509 | +4.2% |
| Renville County | $859 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Rice County | $937 | $1,226 | $1,621 | $2,049 | +3.3% |
| Rock County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,501 | +4.2% |
| Roseau County | $931 | $1,014 | $1,343 | $1,505 | +4.2% |
| Scott County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Sherburne County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Sibley County | $775 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| St. Louis County | $961 | $1,207 | $1,671 | $2,017 | -2.0% |
| Stearns County | $961 | $1,233 | $1,656 | $1,961 | +2.2% |
| Steele County | $951 | $1,244 | $1,703 | $1,814 | +8.9% |
| Stevens County | $785 | $1,027 | $1,422 | $1,717 | +3.6% |
| Swift County | $835 | $1,014 | $1,373 | $1,384 | +4.2% |
| Todd County | $784 | $1,025 | $1,310 | $1,635 | +5.3% |
| Traverse County | $805 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,695 | +4.2% |
| Wabasha County | $931 | $1,014 | $1,328 | $1,512 | +1.3% |
| Wadena County | $836 | $1,059 | $1,302 | $1,392 | +4.2% |
| Waseca County | $787 | $1,030 | $1,349 | $1,354 | +5.9% |
| Washington County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Watonwan County | $842 | $1,014 | $1,261 | $1,333 | +4.2% |
| Wilkin County | $846 | $1,014 | $1,404 | $1,481 | +4.2% |
| Winona County | $890 | $1,118 | $1,352 | $1,625 | +4.9% |
| Wright County | $1,427 | $1,734 | $2,264 | $2,538 | +1.5% |
| Yellow Medicine County | $799 | $1,014 | $1,290 | $1,468 | +4.2% |
Where the Limit Moved Most From FY2026 to FY2027
Biggest increases (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County | $1,166 | $1,343 | +15.2% |
| Lake of the Woods County | $1,014 | $1,154 | +13.8% |
| Brown County | $973 | $1,071 | +10.1% |
| Meeker County | $997 | $1,089 | +9.2% |
| Otter Tail County | $983 | $1,071 | +9.0% |
Biggest cuts (2-bedroom):
| County | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | $1,089 | $1,014 | -6.9% |
| Carlton County | $1,232 | $1,207 | -2.0% |
| St. Louis County | $1,232 | $1,207 | -2.0% |
| Fillmore County | $1,022 | $1,014 | -0.8% |
| Clay County | $1,112 | $1,104 | -0.7% |
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 Minnesota
Comparing HUD's 2-bedroom limit to Zillow's observed rent in the same ZIP code shows where a voucher actually stretches. No Minnesota metro with enough data has a positive median: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington comes closest, with the typical ZIP's limit -2.3% against market rent and 42% of its ZIPs above the going rent. "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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 132 | -2.3% | 42% |
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 Minnesota
The largest voucher programs in Minnesota, by vouchers administered. Each publishes its own payment standard table, usually a one-page PDF under its Housing Choice Voucher section:
- Metropolitan Council (Saint Paul), about 7,100 vouchers, (651) 602-1187
- Public Housing Authority In and For the City of Minneapolis (Minneapolis), about 6,800 vouchers, (612) 342-1400
- Public Housing Agency of the City of St Paul (Saint Paul), about 5,100 vouchers, (651) 298-5664
- Dakota County Cda (Eagan), about 2,800 vouchers, (651) 675-4400
- Hra of Duluth (Duluth), about 2,200 vouchers, (218) 529-6300
- Hra of St. Cloud (Saint Cloud), about 1,000 vouchers, (320) 202-3174
- Nw Mn Multi-County Hra (Mentor), about 1,000 vouchers, (218) 637-2431
- Clay County Hra (Dilworth), about 760 vouchers, (218) 233-8883
Can a Landlord Refuse a Voucher in Minnesota?
Yes, in most of the state. Minnesota has a source-of-income law (Minn. Stat. §363A.09 (public assistance status)), but it does not cover housing vouchers, so a landlord can decline one unless a local ordinance says otherwise. Local ordinances that do cover vouchers: Minneapolis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Section 8 pay in Minnesota? It depends on the county. HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $1,014 in Big Stone County to $1,734 in Wright County, with a median county of $1,048. 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 Minnesota county has the highest Section 8 rent limit? Wright County, at $1,734 for a 2-bedroom ($2,264 for a 3-bedroom) in FY2027. The lowest is Big Stone County at $1,014.
Did Section 8 rent limits go up in Minnesota for FY2027? Mostly yes: the 2-bedroom figure rose in 81 counties, fell in 6, and held in 0. The biggest increase was Houston County (+15.2%). The biggest cut was Polk County (-6.9%).
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Minnesota? Yes, in most of the state. Minnesota has a source-of-income law (Minn. Stat. §363A.09 (public assistance status)), but it does not cover housing vouchers, so a landlord can decline one unless a local ordinance says otherwise. Local ordinances that do cover vouchers: Minneapolis.
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 Minnesota authorities are listed above with phone numbers.
See also our Minnesota Section 8 overview; metro guides for Minneapolis; the national 2-bedroom table for the 40 largest metros; HUD's FY2027 FMR dataset.
Holding a voucher in Minnesota? Browse voucher-friendly listings by ZIP code and bedroom size.
Minnesota landlord? List your property free. The table above is what a voucher tenant's authority can pay.
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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