Section 8 Housing in Baltimore, MD
Waitlist status, housing authority contacts and local application guidance across 5 public housing authorities serving the metro area.
5
Voucher waitlists tracked
0
Waitlists open / lottery
4
Waitlists closed
2,834,316
Metro population (2023)
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Baltimore?
Not that we could confirm. None of the 5 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Baltimore area has a recent, sourced confirmation of an opening: 4 are closed to new applications and 1 could not be confirmed. Housing authorities open and close lists with little notice, and applying is always free, so confirm with the authority before you rely on this.
Status, phone number and application link for each housing authority · Checked October 2026 · See every open Section 8 waiting list we track
Voucher-friendly listings in Baltimore
1 listing
For a Baltimore City HABC voucher, use the submarket rent-review process and an agency-confirmed household calculation. A rent-tool estimate is not approval. Baltimore County and BRHP are separate administrators; identify your program before comparing rents.
Which agency’s rent guidance applies in Baltimore?
The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), Baltimore County’s housing office and the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership are different administrators. Check which program issued the voucher. A Baltimore mailing address or regional search does not make their rent tools interchangeable.
HABC’s rent estimate tool uses Baltimore City submarkets, bedrooms and comparable rentals. It provides a rental range for planning; the agency still reviews the particular unit, its condition and amenities. Use the full address and confirm its submarket rather than treating a citywide FMR as an approved rent.
Agency documents reviewed September 29, 2026. Check the effective schedule for your household and proposed tenancy.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,523 | $1,371 to $1,675 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,625 | $1,463 to $1,788 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,006 | $1,805 to $2,207 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,509 | $2,258 to $2,760 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,789 | $2,510 to $3,068 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Baltimore is $2,006. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,805 to $2,207, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Baltimore
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro rose from $1,857 in FY2026 to $2,006 in FY2027, a change of +$149 a month (+8.0%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,362 | $1,523 | +$161 (+11.8%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,511 | $1,625 | +$114 (+7.5%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,857 | $2,006 | +$149 (+8.0%) |
| 3-bedroom | $2,358 | $2,509 | +$151 (+6.4%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,611 | $2,789 | +$178 (+6.8%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Baltimore? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Apartments that accept Section 8 in Baltimore
Compare voucher-friendly listings by neighborhood, bedroom size and ZIP code, with guidance on the responsible agency, rent and utilities.
Waitlist Status: Where to Apply
Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC, MD002)
closedThe agency states that its tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. The agency applicant page, rather than a third-party opening history, is the source for this status.
Checked October 2026
Source: habc.orgBaltimore County Office of Housing
closedBaltimore County’s official My Housing applicant portal states that no waiting lists are currently open. Existing applicants should use their applicant account for updates; this is not a new application window.
Checked October 2026
Source: baltimorecounty.myhousing.comHousing Commission of Anne Arundel County (MD018)
unknownThe commission offers an application for available communities and programs, but the reviewed agency page does not establish whether the general HCV list is open. Confirm the specific program with HCAAC.
Checked October 2026
Source: hcaac.comHoward County Housing Commission
closedThe administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows.
Checked October 2026
Source: househoward.orgBaltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) mobility program
closedBRHP’s current applicant-portal guidance states that the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program waiting list is closed and that the portal cannot accept new waitlist applications. Existing successful applicants can use the portal to update their information.
Checked October 2026
Source: brhp.orgGet an email when a waiting list opens in Baltimore, MD
We check the housing authorities here and email you when a Section 8 list starts taking applications, plus new voucher-friendly listings. Free, no account needed.
One email to confirm — unsubscribe anytime.
Local guidance checked October 20, 2026. The HUD table above shows rent benchmarks. Your housing authority's adopted payment standard, utility allowance and household calculation determine your assistance.
Current agency application information
Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC, MD002): The agency states that its tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. The agency applicant page, rather than a third-party opening history, is the source for this status. Agency source
Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (MD018): The commission offers an application for available communities and programs, but the reviewed agency page does not establish whether the general HCV list is open. Confirm the specific program with HCAAC. Agency source
Howard County Housing Commission: The administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows. Agency source
Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) mobility program: BRHP’s current applicant-portal guidance states that the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program waiting list is closed and that the portal cannot accept new waitlist applications. Existing successful applicants can use the portal to update their information. Agency source
Baltimore County Office of Housing: Baltimore County’s official My Housing applicant portal states that no waiting lists are currently open. Existing applicants should use their applicant account for updates; this is not a new application window. Agency source
Sources: habc.org, hcaac.com, househoward.org, brhp.org, baltimorecounty.myhousing.com
How much rent the voucher covers
For an HABC voucher, use the city's submarket rent resources. The Rent Estimate Tool offers a planning range based on bedrooms, location and comparable units; condition and amenities affect the actual offer. An estimate is not approval of the asking rent or your household subsidy.
Ask HABC to confirm the applicable standard, utility allowance and household contribution. Its landlord FAQ says tenants may not pay a rent share greater than HABC determines. Baltimore County and BRHP use separate program processes. Read the Baltimore household-cost guide and compare Baltimore apartments with rent and utility responsibilities recorded.
Local help and renter resources
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights investigates housing discrimination complaints, including source-of-income complaints. Source
Baltimore City’s renter legal-resource directory lists Maryland Legal Aid at 410-951-7777, the Public Justice Center at 410-625-9409, and the Pro Bono Resource Center tenant hotline at 443-703-3053. Source
The Pro Bono Resource Center’s tenant program helps renters facing eviction in Baltimore City and Baltimore County; its tenant hotline is 443-703-3053. Source
Economic Action Maryland’s Fair Housing program helps residents with housing discrimination complaints and provides rights education. Source
Sources: mccr.maryland.gov, dhcd.baltimorecity.gov, probonomd.org, econaction.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Baltimore right now?⌄
Not that we could confirm. None of the 5 Section 8 waitlists we track in the Baltimore area has a recent, sourced confirmation of an opening: 4 are closed to new applications and 1 could not be confirmed. Housing authorities open and close lists with little notice, and applying is always free, so confirm with the authority before you rely on this.
Where can I check current voucher application information?⌄
Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC, MD002): The agency states that its tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. The agency applicant page, rather than a third-party opening history, is the source for this status. Housing Commission of Anne Arundel County (MD018): The commission offers an application for available communities and programs, but the reviewed agency page does not establish whether the general HCV list is open. Confirm the specific program with HCAAC. Howard County Housing Commission: The administering agency’s current page states that the tenant-based HCV waiting list is closed. Check the agency for the next opening; other housing programs may have different application windows. Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) mobility program: BRHP’s current applicant-portal guidance states that the Baltimore Housing Mobility Program waiting list is closed and that the portal cannot accept new waitlist applications. Existing successful applicants can use the portal to update their information. Baltimore County Office of Housing: Baltimore County’s official My Housing applicant portal states that no waiting lists are currently open. Existing applicants should use their applicant account for updates; this is not a new application window.
How much of my rent will the voucher cover?⌄
HABC’s submarket rent tool provides an estimated rental range, not an approved rent or subsidy. Have HABC confirm the standard, utility allowance and household contribution for your proposed unit. Baltimore County and BRHP have separate program calculations.
What income do I need to qualify?⌄
You generally must be very low income, at or below 50% of area median income. For a family of four in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area that limit is $67,000 per year. Most vouchers (75%) must go to extremely low income households at or below 30% AMI.
Where can I find local help with a housing problem?⌄
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights investigates housing discrimination complaints, including source-of-income complaints. Baltimore City’s renter legal-resource directory lists Maryland Legal Aid at 410-951-7777, the Public Justice Center at 410-625-9409, and the Pro Bono Resource Center tenant hotline at 443-703-3053. The Pro Bono Resource Center’s tenant program helps renters facing eviction in Baltimore City and Baltimore County; its tenant hotline is 443-703-3053. Economic Action Maryland’s Fair Housing program helps residents with housing discrimination complaints and provides rights education.
More housing help in Baltimore
- Apartments that accept Section 8 in Baltimore, by neighborhood, ZIP code and bedroom size
- Housing authorities in Maryland, phone numbers, addresses and programs
- Open Section 8 waiting lists nationwide
- Listings from landlords in Baltimore who accept vouchers
Own property in Baltimore? List it free.
Add your rental to the Baltimore area listings. Post the unit, receive applications, and message tenants directly. Listings are free.
List your property freeAlready have an account? Sign in to add a listing.
Landlord and investor tools for Baltimore
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Maryland ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MarylandExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MarylandMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.