Section 8 in Akron, OH, OH: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Akron, OH metro area. FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $904 | $814 to $994 |
| 1-bedroom | $985 | $887 to $1,084 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,268 | $1,141 to $1,395 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,547 | $1,392 to $1,702 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,681 | $1,513 to $1,849 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Akron covers up to $1,268 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,141 to $1,395.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.
Housing authorities serving Akron
2 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Akron , OH · OH007 · 5,436 HCV units
3307629631 - Status unknown
Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority
Ravenna , OH · OH031 · 1,951 HCV units
3302971489
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Akron, OH?
Yes. Ohio law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Akron, OH can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Ohio HB 430 (2022) — preempts local SOI ordinances
Ohio has no source-of-income protection. HB 430 (2022) preempts new local SOI ordinances, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (2024) documented widespread SOI discrimination in Cleveland. Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, and University Heights each passed local ordinances before HB 430 and continue to enforce them, but post-HB-430 legal standing is uncertain.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Akron metro
County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Akron?
- In the Akron, OH metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,268 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,141 to $1,395 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
- What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Akron?
- HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Akron, OH metro, by bedroom size: studio $904, 1-bedroom $985, 2-bedroom $1,268, 3-bedroom $1,547, 4-bedroom $1,681. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Akron?
- Section 8 in Akron is administered by Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.
Find Section 8 apartments in Akron
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.
Other Section 8 markets in OH
Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.