VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Des Moines, IA, IA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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)
$1,318
HUD
Active vouchers
4,914
83% utilized
Housing authorities
4
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Unknown

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)$1,063$957 to $1,169
1-bedroom$1,109$998 to $1,220
2-bedroom$1,318$1,186 to $1,450
3-bedroom$1,794$1,615 to $1,973
4-bedroom$1,841$1,657 to $2,025

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Des Moines covers up to $1,318 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,186 to $1,450.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
4,914
Occupied
4,060
Utilization
83%

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 Des Moines

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

  • Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency

    Des Moines , IA · IA020 · 3,702 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5153238950

  • Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority

    Grimes , IA · IA131 · 1,037 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5159861882

  • Warren County Housing Authority

    Indianola , IA · IA120 · 175 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5159611073

  • Low Rent Housing Agency of Winterset

    Winterset , IA · IA017

    Status unknown
    5154624340

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Des Moines, IA?

Source-of-income protection status for Iowa is not yet in our database. Check with local legal aid or the state civil-rights office before assuming either way.

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

Counties in the Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
In the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,318 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,186 to $1,450 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Des Moines?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,063, 1-bedroom $1,109, 2-bedroom $1,318, 3-bedroom $1,794, 4-bedroom $1,841. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Des Moines?
Section 8 in Des Moines is administered by Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency, Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority, Warren County 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 Des Moines

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 IA

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