How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Bellingham?

In the Bellingham, WA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,794 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,615 to $1,973 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.

What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Bellingham?

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Bellingham, WA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,463, 1-bedroom $1,493, 2-bedroom $1,794, 3-bedroom $2,495, 4-bedroom $3,010. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.

How do I apply for Section 8 in Bellingham?

Section 8 in Bellingham is administered by Housing Authority City of Bellingham, Ha of Whatcom County. 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.

Section 8 in Bellingham, WA, WA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Bellingham, WA 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.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2026)

$1,794

HUD

Active vouchers

1,957

89% utilized

Housing authorities

serving this metro

Voucher protection

Protected

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)	$1,463	$1,317 to $1,609
1-bedroom	$1,493	$1,344 to $1,642
2-bedroom	$1,794	$1,615 to $1,973
3-bedroom	$2,495	$2,246 to $2,745
4-bedroom	$3,010	$2,709 to $3,311

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Bellingham covers up to $1,794 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,615 to $1,973.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers

1,957

Occupied

1,749

Utilization

89%

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 Bellingham

2 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

Housing Authority City of Bellingham
Bellingham , WA · WA025 · 1,957 HCV units
Status unknown
3606766887
Ha of Whatcom County
Bellingham , WA · WA041
Status unknown
3606766887

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Bellingham, WA?

No. Washington law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Bellingham, WA. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.

Washington HB 2578 (2018) bans SOI discrimination. Reasonable "screening" restrictions apply only to your share of rent.

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Counties in the Bellingham metro

County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.

Whatcom County

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Bellingham?: In the Bellingham, WA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,794 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,615 to $1,973 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Bellingham?: HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Bellingham, WA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,463, 1-bedroom $1,493, 2-bedroom $1,794, 3-bedroom $2,495, 4-bedroom $3,010. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Bellingham?: Section 8 in Bellingham is administered by Housing Authority City of Bellingham, Ha of Whatcom County. 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 Bellingham

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.

Browse voucher-friendly listings List your unit free

Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.