VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Charleston, SC, SC: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Charleston-North Charleston, SC 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)
$1,787
HUD
Active vouchers
5,252
89% utilized
Housing authorities
3
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Not 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.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$1,557$1,401 to $1,713
1-bedroom$1,630$1,467 to $1,793
2-bedroom$1,787$1,608 to $1,966
3-bedroom$2,222$2,000 to $2,444
4-bedroom$2,562$2,306 to $2,818

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Charleston covers up to $1,787 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,608 to $1,966.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
5,252
Occupied
4,697
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 Charleston

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

  • Housing Authority of N Charleston

    North Charleston , SC · SC057 · 2,336 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8437471793

  • Housing Authority of the City of Charleston

    Charleston , SC · SC001 · 1,804 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8437203970

  • Charleston Co Hsg & Redev Auth

    Charleston , SC · SC056 · 1,112 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8436280728

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Charleston, SC?

In most of the state, yes. South Carolina has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Charleston, SC can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

No statewide SOI protection in South Carolina. Landlords can 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 Charleston 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 Charleston?
In the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,787 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,608 to $1,966 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Charleston?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,557, 1-bedroom $1,630, 2-bedroom $1,787, 3-bedroom $2,222, 4-bedroom $2,562. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Charleston?
Section 8 in Charleston is administered by Housing Authority of N Charleston, Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, Charleston Co Hsg & Redev Auth. 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 Charleston

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 SC

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