VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Chattanooga, TN, TN: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Chattanooga, TN-GA 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)
$1,390
HUD
Active vouchers
4,150
85% utilized
Housing authorities
6
serving this metro
Voucher protection
State preempts
Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

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)$1,211$1,090 to $1,332
1-bedroom$1,263$1,137 to $1,389
2-bedroom$1,390$1,251 to $1,529
3-bedroom$1,734$1,561 to $1,907
4-bedroom$1,853$1,668 to $2,038

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Chattanooga covers up to $1,390 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,251 to $1,529.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
4,150
Occupied
3,532
Utilization
85%

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 Chattanooga

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

  • Chattanooga Housing Authority

    Chattanooga , TN · TN004 · 3,919 HCV units

    Status unknown
    4237524893

  • Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency

    Dunlap , TN · TN117 · 231 HCV units

    Status unknown
    4239492191

  • Housing Authority of the City of Ringgold

    Ringgold , GA · GA216

    Status unknown
    7069353028

  • Housing Authority of the City of Fort Oglethorpe

    Fort Oglethorpe , GA · GA246

    Status unknown
    7068663303

  • Housing Authority of the City of Lafayette

    La Fayette , GA · GA170

    Status unknown
    7066382733

  • South Pittsburg Housing Authority

    South Pittsburg , TN · TN037

    Status unknown
    4238376600

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Chattanooga, TN?

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

Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

Tennessee has NO statewide source-of-income protection. The state legislature has been aggressive about preempting local anti-discrimination measures. Landlords can legally decline voucher applicants. Voucher tenants remain a solid financial option — guaranteed monthly rent, often above local market — but the choice is voluntary.

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 Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga?
In the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,390 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,251 to $1,529 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Chattanooga?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,211, 1-bedroom $1,263, 2-bedroom $1,390, 3-bedroom $1,734, 4-bedroom $1,853. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Chattanooga?
Section 8 in Chattanooga is administered by Chattanooga Housing Authority, Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Housing Authority of the City of Ringgold 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 Chattanooga

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 listingsList your unit free

Other Section 8 markets in TN

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