Section 8 Transfer to Another State: NYC Steps and Timeline
Quick answerYes. A Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher can move (port) from NYC to any U.S. housing agency that runs a tenant-based voucher program. You ask the NYC agency that issued your voucher: NYCHA through the Portability tab of its Self-Service Portal, HPD through its Port Out Request Form. No agency publishes an end-to-end timeline. The figures that do exist are a NYCHA portability voucher valid for 180 days and HUD's expectation that the new agency issues its own voucher within two weeks of a complete file. Do not leave your apartment until the port is approved.
- 180 dayshow long NYCHA's portability voucher is valid
- Two weeksHUD's expectation for the new agency's voucher after a complete file
- 3 to 10 business daysNYCHA's average transfer approval; port-outs not specified
- 12 monthsfederal wait that applies only to non-resident applicants
- May 1, 2026NYCHA's cost-neutral rule for non-emergency transfers began
Which NYC Agency Issued Your Voucher?
Three agencies run Section 8 in New York City, and each has its own port-out route. NYCHA says so itself: HPD and New York State HCR "also operate Section 8 programs in New York City" (NYCHA, About Section 8). If you are not sure which one you have, see HPD vs NYCHA Section 8.
| Agency | How to ask | Contact | Conditions the agency publishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYCHA | Portability tab of the Self-Service Portal, or paper Form 059.723 (Voucher Holder Request for Portability) | Customer Contact Center, (718) 707-7771 | Initial lease term with your owner has expired; good standing; no pending subsidy termination or eviction proceeding from the landlord |
| HPD | Port Out Request Form, returned through nyc.gov/dtrportal, by email, by fax to (212) 863-7103, or in person at 100 Gold Street | Portability@hpd.nyc.gov, 917-286-4300 | 12 months in your unit; no move voucher in the past 12 months; recertified within 12 months; current on rent; no money owed to HPD; lease expired or a signed General Release; no eviction proceeding |
| NYS HCR | Not published for NYC participants | Your case manager, or the call center at 833-791-2748 | Not found on any public page checked |
What it means: each agency has its own port-out route, and HCR publishes none for NYC participants.
Source: NYCHA, How Portability Works, NYCHA Section 8 Transfers and the NYCHA Administrative Plan (effective May 2026); HPD, Moving, the HPD Port Out FAQ and the HPD Port Out Request Form; NYS HCR Section 8 page.
HPD. Only tenant-based vouchers port. HPD says its Mod Rehab and Continuum of Care participants "are not able to port out of NYC." The request form goes back through nyc.gov/dtrportal or the other routes in the table.
HCR. No public page was found that tells an HCR voucher holder living in NYC how to request a port-out or whom to send it to. HCR's Administrative Plan, version 2026-2, dated October 1, 2026, does set portability policy: it applies the 12-month rule for non-resident applicants and asks for documentation, issues the voucher within 10 business days of approval, gives a 60-day initial voucher term, and has a policy for denying a move for lack of funding. The plan says new policies take effect sixty calendar days after publication. Start with your case manager.
NYCHA's Portability Unit. NYCHA lists S8Portability@nycha.nyc.gov for other housing agencies and for families porting into NYC who need to update contact details. Requests to port out go through the portal or (718) 707-7771.
The rest of this guide gives the federal rules, which bind all three agencies, and NYCHA's steps in detail.
What Is Section 8 Portability?
Portability is HUD's term for moving a Housing Choice Voucher from one public housing agency (PHA) to another. The voucher does not move by itself.
- Initial PHAthe agency that issued your voucher. Your NYC agency decides whether you are eligible to move and sends your file.
- Receiving PHAthe agency where you are going. It then issues its own voucher and applies its own policies (24 CFR 982.355(c)).
The right is broad. A voucher family may lease a unit "anywhere in the United States, in the jurisdiction of a PHA with a tenant-based program" (24 CFR 982.353(b)). NYCHA adds that this includes "its commonwealths and territories (e.g., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands)" (NYCHA Section 8 Transfers). The destination must be inside the area of an agency that runs a voucher program.
Key pointThe receiving agency does not get to turn you away. The regulation says: "A receiving PHA cannot refuse to assist incoming portable families or direct them to another neighboring PHA for assistance" (24 CFR 982.355(b)).
The only exception needs HUD's written approval, which HUD Notice PIH 2016-09 describes as "meant only for extreme circumstances," such as a declared disaster area. An agency that tells you it is "not taking ports" is describing something the rule does not allow without that approval.
The full rules are 24 CFR 982.353 to 982.355 and PIH 2016-09, all linked from HUD's portability page. For the national version of this process, see how Section 8 portability works.
Who Can Port Their Voucher?
If you lived in NYC when you applied, no federal waiting period applies to you. These conditions decide whether you can move now.
- The 12-month rule applies only to non-resident applicants. if neither the head of household nor the spouse had a legal residence in the initial agency's area when the family first applied, the family "does not have any right to portability" for 12 months from admission, though "the initial PHA may choose to allow portability" during that time (24 CFR 982.353(c)).
- Your initial lease term is a separate question. an agency may adopt a policy against moves during the first lease term (24 CFR 982.354(c)(2)). NYCHA's says: "You may request a transfer after your initial lease term with the owner expires" (NYCHA Tenants FAQ). NYCHA also says you may move "when your lease expires or is expiring within 60 days of your request to move."
- You cannot leave in violation of your lease. a family that "has moved out of the assisted unit in violation of the lease" gets no portable assistance (24 CFR 982.353(b)). HPD accepts either an expired lease or a General Release signed by the current landlord.
- NYCHA requires good standing. its Administrative Plan says "the tenant must be in good standing with no pending subsidy termination or eviction proceedings from the landlord" (NYCHA Administrative Plan, section XXI).
HUD's own web page words the 12-month rule loosely ("they may have to live in the jurisdiction of the initial PHA for a year"), which is why many guides state it as a rule for every new voucher holder.
One kind of court case works differently under the good-standing condition: NYCHA treats a holdover proceeding "based on a landlord's choice not to renew a lease" as a reason for an emergency transfer. The guide to Section 8 emergency transfers in NYC covers that route.
Key pointSurvivors of violence have exceptions. The 12-month rule and an agency's policy against moving during the initial lease term do not apply when the move is needed to protect a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, and in defined circumstances the family may move even in violation of the lease (24 CFR 982.353(b) and (c)(4); 982.354(c)(2)(iii)). Say so when you make the request; NYCHA has a VAWA transfers FAQ.
- A voucher cannot go to a different personNYCHA's FAQ says "Vouchers are not transferable" (see transferring a voucher to another person).
- The portability rules cover tenant-based vouchersHCR says a project-based voucher "will stay with that unit" if you move out. VoucherMatch did not find an official page describing a way to carry a public housing apartment to another agency; Section 8 vs. public housing explains which kinds of assistance travel.
How to Request a Port-Out from NYCHA
The head of household makes the request, and it has to name the receiving agency. The steps below are from NYCHA's How Portability Works and Transfers pages.
- 1Identify the receiving agencyFind which agency covers the address you want in the HUD PHA contact list, or call HUD's PIH Customer Service Center at (800) 955-2232, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday except federal holidays. The VoucherMatch housing authority directory lists agencies by state.
- 2Get its name, address and a contact personNYCHA requires all three on the request.
- 3Submit the requestLog in to the NYCHA Self-Service Portal, open the Portability tab and complete the online Request for Portability. NYCHA emails a confirmation and you can check the status online. The paper version is NYCHA Form 059.723, Voucher Holder Request for Portability, available from the Customer Contact Center at (718) 707-7771. The Administrative Plan also accepts requests by mail, by email, or at a walk-in center by appointment.
- 4Wait for NYCHA's decision before you do anything to your leaseNYCHA's page heads this step "Do Not Vacate your Unit Until Approved!"
- 5Receive the portability voucherNYCHA says "Upon approval you will be issued a portability voucher valid for 180 days."
- 6Give your move-out dateTell your owner and NYCHA, then contact the receiving agency yourself.
- Form 059.723for leaving NYC.
- Form 059.004, Voucher Holder Request for Transferfor moving to another apartment inside the city, which is a different process covered in how to transfer your Section 8 voucher in NYC.
Who Acts at Each Stage of a Port-Out
Three parties act in a port-out, and the rules that govern your voucher switch at stage 7. Before it, your NYC agency's bedroom size and payment standard apply. From it onward, the receiving agency's do.
- 1YouTell your NYC agency you want to move and where.
- 2NYC agencyDecides whether you are eligible to move.
- 3NYC agency and new agencyNYC agency asks the new agency whether it will bill or absorb. The new agency answers in writing.
- 4NYC agencyIf the new agency will bill and your subsidy would cost more there, may deny the move for insufficient funding.
- 5NYC agencyIssues your voucher to move (NYCHA: valid 180 days), tells you how to reach the new agency, and sends your file.
- 6YouContact the new agency promptly and follow its intake steps.
- 7New agencyRules switch here. Sets your bedroom size, applies its own payment standards and policies, may rescreen you, and issues its own voucher.
- 8New agencyIts voucher cannot expire earlier than 30 calendar days after your NYC voucher's expiration date.
- 9YouFind a unit and submit a Request for Tenancy Approval before the voucher expires.
- 10New agencyTells the NYC agency whether you leased a unit. From then on it either bills the NYC agency or absorbs you.
Source: 24 CFR 982.355; the 180-day figure is from NYCHA Section 8 Transfers. The table below gives the rule for each stage.
| Stage | Who acts | What happens | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You | Tell your NYC agency you want to move and where | 982.355(c)(1) |
| 2 | NYC agency | Decides whether you are eligible to move: lease status, good standing, the non-resident 12-month rule, VAWA exceptions | 982.355(c)(2); 982.353; 982.354 |
| 3 | NYC agency and new agency | NYC agency asks the new agency whether it will bill or absorb. The new agency answers in writing. If it says absorb, it cannot reverse that without the NYC agency's consent | 982.355(c)(3), (4) |
| 4 | NYC agency | If the new agency will bill and your subsidy would cost more there, the NYC agency may deny the move for insufficient funding | 982.355(c)(5); 982.354(e)(1) |
| 5 | NYC agency | Issues your voucher to move (NYCHA: valid 180 days), tells you how to reach the new agency, and sends Form HUD-52665, your latest Form HUD-50058 and verifications | 982.355(c)(6), (7) |
| 6 | You | Contact the new agency promptly and follow its intake steps | 982.355(c)(8) |
| 7 | New agency | Rules switch here. Sets your bedroom size under its own subsidy standards, applies its own payment standards and policies, may rescreen you, and issues its own voucher | 982.355(c)(9), (10), (12), (13) |
| 8 | New agency | Its voucher cannot expire earlier than 30 calendar days after your NYC voucher's expiration date. Later extensions follow the new agency's policy | 982.355(c)(13), (14) |
| 9 | You | Find a unit and submit a Request for Tenancy Approval before the voucher expires. The clock stops while the request is pending | 982.355(c)(15); 982.303(c) |
| 10 | New agency | Tells the NYC agency whether you leased a unit. From then on it either bills the NYC agency or absorbs you. Either way you follow its rules | 982.355(c)(16), (d), (e) |
| If you change your mind | You, then new agency | Tell the new agency. It confirms the cancellation and returns the voucher to your NYC agency | NYCHA, How Portability Works |
Source: 24 CFR 982.355, 982.353, 982.354 and 982.303, current as of October 1, 2026; HUD Notice PIH 2016-09; the 180-day figure is from NYCHA Section 8 Transfers.
What it means: stage 6 is yours. The regulation says "The family must promptly contact the receiving PHA," and that failing to do so "may result in denial or termination of the receiving PHA's voucher." Do not wait for a call. Stage 3 is not yours: HUD says finding out whether the new agency will bill or absorb is "the responsibility of the initial PHA, not the family."
The packet NYCHA or HPD sends holds Part I of Form HUD-52665, your most recent Form HUD-50058, the related verification documents and a copy of your signed voucher (PIH 2016-09, section 9.h). Agencies exchange it by email or another confirmed delivery method.
What Can Be Different in Your New Location
From stage 7 the receiving agency's rules apply to you, and four things can change.
- Bedroom size"The receiving PHA must determine the family unit size" under its own subsidy standards (24 CFR 982.355(c)(12)). A household NYCHA approved for three bedrooms can be issued a two-bedroom voucher elsewhere. If you need a larger size as a reasonable accommodation, HPD's FAQ says that request goes to the receiving agency.
- Payment standardYour subsidy "is determined in the same manner as for other families in the receiving PHA program" (24 CFR 982.355(e)(2)). Each agency sets its payment standards from the local Fair Market Rent, in a basic range of 90 to 110 percent of it (24 CFR 982.503). Compare the receiving agency's standard with asking rents in that area before you decide. NYC's figures are in NYC Section 8 payment standards.
- Utility allowanceHPD's Port Out FAQ lists the utility allowance among the things the receiving agency sets. It changes your share when you pay utilities yourself.
- ScreeningThe receiving agency may rescreen an incoming family under its own policies, for example on criminal background or prior evictions, and may deny or end assistance on the grounds in the federal rules. You have a right to an informal review or hearing. It "may not delay issuing the family a voucher" while it rescreens (PIH 2016-09, section 10.b).
Key pointOne thing does not change for a family already assisted. If you are a current participant, "income eligibility is not redetermined" when you port (24 CFR 982.353(d)(2)). If you hold a voucher but have not yet leased a unit with it, you must be income-eligible under the receiving agency's limits.
Billing vs. Absorbing: Who Pays for Your Voucher?
The receiving agency chooses one of two ways to fund you, and neither lets it refuse you.
- Billingthe receiving agency runs your voucher and bills your NYC agency for the cost.
- Absorbingthe receiving agency pays for your voucher from its own funds, and you become one of its families.
A receiving agency without funds to absorb you bills instead. The refusal the rules allow sits with your NYC agency. If the receiving agency will bill "and the cost of the HAP will increase due to the move, the initial PHA may deny the move if it does not have sufficient funding for continued assistance" (24 CFR 982.355(c)(5)).
HUD limits that power in PIH 2016-09, section 7:
- It applies only to a move to a "higher cost area," meaning higher payment standards or more generous subsidy standards.
- It applies only when the receiving agency is not absorbing.
- The agency must notify the HUD field office within 10 business days.
- Once you have moved, "Initial PHAs may not impose a cap on the amount of HAP they will pay for a family that has moved under portability."
So the question for your NYC agency, before you give notice, is whether it will approve a port to that specific area if the receiving agency bills.
NYCHA's cost-neutral rule since May 1, 2026
NYCHA's rule reads: "Starting May 1, 2026, NYCHA will only process non-emergency transfer rental requests that are cost-neutral for voluntary moves. This means the new apartment's gross contract rent must be the same or lower than your current apartment's gross contract rent." Gross contract rent is the contract rent plus any utility allowances, and the rule "does not apply to involuntary moves using an emergency transfer" (NYCHA Section 8 Transfers).
- The text describes rental requests that NYCHA itself processes, comparing the new apartment's rent with the current one. After a port, the receiving agency approves the rental.
- NYCHA has published nothing that applies the rule to port-outs.
- Its Administrative Plan puts the rule in the Transfers section (XXII.A, "All non-emergency transfers must be cost neutral") and covers portability separately in section XXI, with no cost-neutral language there.
- The same Transfers page does describe portability as a type of transfer, so the question is open.
Watch outConfirm the cost-neutral rule before you pick a destination.Ask NYCHA in writing whether the rule affects your port-out before you commit to a destination.
How Long Does the Transfer Take?
No official source gives an end-to-end time for a port. The regulation, PIH 2016-09, HUD's portability page and the NYCHA and HPD pages contain no such figure. What they do publish is a set of separate clocks.
- 3 to 10 business days on averageNYCHA approves a transfer request. NYCHA does not say whether it covers port-outs.
- 180 dayshow long NYCHA's portability voucher is valid.
- Within two weeks of a complete fileHUD's expectation for the receiving agency to issue its own voucher.
- While a Request for Tenancy Approval is pendingthe voucher clock stops.
- 30 calendar days after the NYC voucher's expiration datethe earliest the receiving agency's voucher can expire. A minimum.
What it means: these figures cover single stages and cannot be added into a total.
Sources: NYCHA Tenants FAQ and NYCHA Section 8 Transfers; HUD Notice PIH 2016-09, section 10.f; 24 CFR 982.355 and 982.303.
| Step | Published figure | Published by | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYCHA approves a transfer request | 3 to 10 business days on average | NYCHA Tenants FAQ | Stated for transfers. NYCHA does not say whether it covers port-outs |
| NYCHA portability voucher | Valid 180 days | NYCHA Transfers page | NYCHA only |
| Receiving agency issues its voucher | Within two weeks of receiving Form HUD-52665 and supporting documents | HUD Notice PIH 2016-09, section 10.f | An expectation, and only if the file is in order, you have contacted the agency and you follow its procedures |
| Receiving agency's voucher term | Ends no earlier than 30 calendar days after the NYC voucher's expiration date | 24 CFR 982.355(c)(13) | A minimum. Further extensions follow the receiving agency's policy |
| Voucher clock after you submit a Request for Tenancy Approval | Stops while the request is pending | 24 CFR 982.303(c) | None stated |
Sources: NYCHA Tenants FAQ and NYCHA Section 8 Transfers, read October 3, 2026; HUD Notice PIH 2016-09, issued June 6, 2016 and still in effect; 24 CFR 982.355 and 982.303.
What it means: these figures cover single stages and cannot be added into a total, because nothing is published for the time NYCHA takes to send the file or for your search. Federal rules set a minimum initial voucher term of 60 calendar days; NYCHA's portability voucher runs 180.
TipA suggestion, not an official figure: start calling the receiving agency 60 to 90 days before you want to move, and file the request once your lease is within 60 days of expiring, since that is when NYCHA says you may move.
Ask Before You Give Notice
Every question below is tied to something the rules let an agency decide. Get the answers in writing where you can.
- What bedroom size will you issue for my household?
- What is your payment standard for that size, and what is your utility allowance?
- Do you rescreen incoming families, and on what grounds do you deny? HUD's handout for families in PIH 2016-09 tells you to ask this.
- How long is your voucher term, and how do I request an extension?
- Who is your portability contact? Get the name, phone and email. NYCHA and HPD both require a contact on the request.
- Do you have a Family Self-Sufficiency or homeownership program that can take me?
- Was I a non-resident applicant, and if so, have 12 months passed since I was admitted?
- Will you approve a port to this area if the receiving agency bills and my subsidy costs more there?
- NYCHA only: does the cost-neutral rule in effect since May 1, 2026 apply to my port-out?
- What date does my portability voucher expire?
- If the port falls through, do I keep my assistance in NYC?
Risks and How to Protect Yourself
The main risk is running out of voucher time after you have given up your NYC apartment.
Watch outArrive at the new agency before your voucher expires.HUD's handout for families puts it this way: manage the move "so that you have enough time to arrive at the receiving PHA before the initial PHA voucher expires; otherwise, you may lose your assistance."
- Stay in your unit until the port is approved. NYCHA's instruction is "Do Not Vacate your Unit Until Approved!" After approval, NYCHA tells you to notify your owner and NYCHA of your move-out date. Federal rules require notice to both the agency and the owner before you move (24 CFR 982.354(d)).
- Keep paying rent in NYC while you search. HPD states this outright: "you must continue to pay your rent in NYC and comply with HPD's program rules" until you move into an assisted unit. NYCHA has not published an equivalent sentence, so ask before you stop paying anything.
- Know what happens if the voucher expires. HPD says a current participant whose portability voucher expires "may stay in NYC and maintain your assistance" if in compliance. NYCHA has not published the same assurance, which is why the question is on the list above. If you run short on time, more search time on the NYC voucher is "at the discretion of the initial PHA" (PIH 2016-09, section 10.i).
- Get a receipt for your keys. NYCHA's own tip: "Get a written confirmation when you return your keys!"
- Check your FSS escrow first. HPD warns that if the receiving agency has no Family Self-Sufficiency program or cannot admit you, "you will lose any escrow that you have earned."
- You can cancel. Tell the receiving agency. NYCHA says "The PHA will confirm your cancellation and return your voucher to NYCHA." Cancelling keeps your voucher. It keeps your apartment only if you have not already ended your lease.
- If you later return to NYC, you port in. Since August 1, 2025, NYCHA "is no longer absorbing incoming portability" and bills the sending agency (NYCHA Portability). See porting a voucher into NYC.
What If You're Moving to New Jersey or the Tri-State Area?
A move to New Jersey, Westchester or Long Island is a full port-out with the same stages as a move across the country. Crossing the Hudson or the city line puts you under a different agency.
NYCHA lists five nearby agencies.
| Agency | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Newark Housing Authority | Newark, NJ | (973) 273-6000 |
| White Plains Housing Authority | White Plains, NY | (914) 949-6462 |
| City of Yonkers Housing Authority | Yonkers, NY | (914) 793-8400 |
| Greenburgh Housing Authority | 9 Maple Street, White Plains, NY | (914) 946-2110 |
| City of New Rochelle Housing Authority | New Rochelle, NY | (914) 654-2180 |
What it means: NYCHA's list has no Long Island agency and only one in New Jersey.
Source: NYCHA's How Portability Works page.
For any other town, look up the agency in the HUD PHA contact list or the housing authority directory on VoucherMatch.
For New Jersey, start with keeping Section 8 when moving to New Jersey and the Fair Market Rent for every New Jersey county, which is the base each agency there uses to set its payment standard.
VASH Voucher Holders
Veterans with a HUD-VASH voucher from NYCHA start with the VA.
- 1YouNYCHA's portability page says you must first contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and must have completed your NYCHA initial lease term.
- 2VAIf the VA approves, it gives NYCHA a Port Request Form and a recommendation letter.
- 3VAIt helps coordinate the move under VASH program rules.
Source: NYCHA, How Portability Works.
Resources
- 24 CFR 982.353, 982.354 and 982.355: the portability rules
- HUD Notice PIH 2016-09: HUD's portability guidance, with a handout for families
- Form HUD-52665: the form agencies send each other
- NYCHA Section 8 program updates: where NYCHA posts policy changes
- NYCHA non-emergency transfer letter: the cost-neutral policy as mailed to tenants
- NYCHA Customer Contact Center: (718) 707-7771
- HPD Move Unit: Portability@hpd.nyc.gov, 917-286-4300
- HUD PIH Customer Service Center: (800) 955-2232
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you transfer a Section 8 voucher from NYC to another state? Yes, a Section 8 voucher can be transferred to another state. A tenant-based voucher can be used anywhere in the United States where a housing agency runs a voucher program, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Your NYC agency approves the move and sends your file, and the receiving agency issues its own voucher under its own rules.
How long do you have to live in NYC before you can port your Section 8 voucher? There is no waiting period if you lived in NYC when you applied.
- Federal 12-month rule: covers only families who did not live in the agency's area when they first applied.
- NYCHA: separately, accepts a request after your initial lease term with the owner expires.
- HPD: requires 12 months in your unit.
- Survivors covered by the Violence Against Women Act: exempt from the 12-month rule.
How do I request a port-out from NYCHA? Log in to the NYCHA Self-Service Portal, open the Portability tab and complete the Request for Portability, or ask the Customer Contact Center at (718) 707-7771 for Form 059.723. The head of household must make the request and give the receiving agency's name, address and contact person. HPD voucher holders use HPD's Port Out Request Form.
How long does a Section 8 portability transfer take? No agency publishes a total.
- NYCHA reports approving transfer requests in 3 to 10 business days on average, without saying whether that includes port-outs.
- HUD expects the receiving agency to issue its voucher within two weeks of a complete file.
- NYCHA's portability voucher is valid for 180 days.
Will my voucher cover the same rent and bedroom size in another state? Not necessarily. The receiving agency sets your bedroom size, payment standard and utility allowance under its own policies, so your share of the rent can change. Ask for all three before you give notice.
Can you lose your Section 8 voucher while porting it? Yes, if the voucher expires before you lease a unit or if you do not contact the receiving agency promptly. HPD says a compliant participant whose portability voucher expires can stay in NYC and keep assistance. NYCHA has not published the same assurance, so ask.
Can a housing authority in another state refuse my port? Not without HUD's written approval.
- Rescreening: it may rescreen you under its own policies and deny on the federal grounds.
- Your right: an informal review or hearing.
- Budget denials: the agency allowed to say no for budget reasons is your NYC agency, and only for a move to a higher-cost area when the receiving agency bills.
Can I apply for Section 8 in another state instead of porting? Yes, the rules provide for applicants who live outside an agency's area. If you are admitted that way, you generally must use the voucher in that agency's area for the first 12 months unless it allows otherwise. Whether a list is open is local: see how to check any Section 8 waiting list.
Can I transfer a CityFHEPS voucher to another state? No such option is published. CityFHEPS is a city program, and HRA says it "pays part of eligible tenants monthly rent anywhere in New York State" (HRA CityFHEPS). For moves within the state, see moving to a new apartment with CityFHEPS.
Next step: look up the agency that covers the address you want in the housing authority directory, call it with the questions under "Ask Before You Give Notice," and only then file your request. If the answers change your mind and you stay in the city, you can browse NYC listings that accept vouchers.
How this article was checked
Last checked: October 3, 2026, against 24 CFR 982.303 and 982.353 to 982.355, HUD Notice PIH 2016-09, NYCHA's portability, transfers and tenant FAQ pages and its May 2026 Administrative Plan, HPD's Port Out FAQ and Port Out Request Form, and NYS HCR's Administrative Plan version 2026-2.
Sources for this article (25)
- NYCHA, About Section 8 (nyc.gov)
- NYCHA, How Portability Works (nyc.gov)
- NYCHA Section 8 Transfers (nyc.gov)
- NYCHA Administrative Plan (nyc.gov)
- HPD, Moving (nyc.gov)
- HPD Port Out FAQ (nyc.gov)
- HPD Port Out Request Form (nyc.gov)
- NYS HCR Section 8 page (hcr.ny.gov)
- nyc.gov/dtrportal (nyc.gov)
- Administrative Plan, version 2026-2 (hcr.ny.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.355(c) (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.353(b) (ecfr.gov)
- HUD Notice PIH 2016-09 (hud.gov)
- HUD's portability page (hud.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.354(c)(2) (ecfr.gov)
- NYCHA Tenants FAQ (nyc.gov)
- VAWA transfers FAQ (nyc.gov)
- HUD PHA contact list (hud.gov)
- NYCHA Self-Service Portal (selfserve.nycha.info)
- 982.303 (ecfr.gov)
- NYCHA Portability (nyc.gov)
- Form HUD-52665 (hud.gov)
- NYCHA Section 8 program updates (nyc.gov)
- NYCHA non-emergency transfer letter (nyc.gov)
- HRA CityFHEPS (nyc.gov)
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Moving within NYC on Section 8? Ask your agency first. Since May 1, 2026, NYCHA approves a voluntary move only if rent plus utilities is no higher.
17 min readSection 8 Emergency Transfer in NYC: Who Qualifies, Which Form
Domestic violence, stalking, intimidation or a 24-hour failed inspection can qualify. Apply on NYCHA's portal or Form 059.004. Vouchers last 180 days.
9 min readWhat Counts as Income for Section 8? What Is Included, What Is Excluded, and Child Support (2026)
Section 8 counts nearly all money that regularly comes into the household from outside it, including wages, benefits, child support you actually receive and business profit. HUD's 2023 income rule also lists 28 categories that do not count, from a minor's paychecks to tax refunds, gifts for birthdays and one-time payments. Here is the full picture, with the deductions that lower the number your rent is based on.
9 min readHaving a Baby on Section 8: Reporting the Birth, Voucher Size, and Whether You Have to Move
A new baby does not need housing authority approval, but you must report the birth, usually within 10 to 30 days. Your rent share usually goes down, your voucher size may go up at the next recertification, and if the apartment becomes overcrowded under HUD's space standards the agency must issue a voucher to move. Here is the rule, what changes, and a New York City note on transfers.
8 min readFind Your Next Home
Explore section 8 apartments and local rental guidance.