VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Brownsville, TX, TX: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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)
$1,047
HUD
Active vouchers
5,443
91% utilized
Housing authorities
6
serving this metro
Voucher protection
State preempts

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.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$773$696 to $850
1-bedroom$866$779 to $953
2-bedroom$1,047$942 to $1,152
3-bedroom$1,414$1,273 to $1,555
4-bedroom$1,479$1,331 to $1,627

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Brownsville covers up to $1,047 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $942 to $1,152.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
5,443
Occupied
4,978
Utilization
91%

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 Brownsville

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

  • Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville

    Brownsville , TX · TX007 · 2,904 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9565418315

  • Cameron County Housing Authority

    Brownsville , TX · TX509 · 1,031 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9565414983

  • Harlingen Housing Authority

    Harlingen , TX · TX065 · 830 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9564232521

  • San Benito Housing Authority

    San Benito , TX · TX025 · 452 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9563997501

  • Port Isabel Housing Authority

    Port Isabel , TX · TX173 · 120 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9569432863

  • Los Fresnos Housing Authority

    Los Fresnos , TX · TX206 · 106 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9562335012

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Brownsville, TX?

Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Brownsville, TX can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.

Texas has NO statewide SOI protection AND state law preempts city ordinances. Austin passed protection in 2014, Texas legislature struck it down in 2015. Landlords in Texas can legally refuse vouchers.

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

Counties in the Brownsville 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 Brownsville?
In the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,047 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $942 to $1,152 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Brownsville?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro, by bedroom size: studio $773, 1-bedroom $866, 2-bedroom $1,047, 3-bedroom $1,414, 4-bedroom $1,479. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Brownsville?
Section 8 in Brownsville is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville, Cameron County Housing Authority, Harlingen Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. 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 Brownsville

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.

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Other Section 8 markets in TX

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