VoucherMatch

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

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 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)
$1,051
HUD
Active vouchers
10,187
78% utilized
Housing authorities
15
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)$796$716 to $876
1-bedroom$801$721 to $881
2-bedroom$1,051$946 to $1,156
3-bedroom$1,368$1,231 to $1,505
4-bedroom$1,392$1,253 to $1,531

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Nashville covers up to $1,051 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $946 to $1,156.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
10,187
Occupied
7,929
Utilization
78%

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 Nashville

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

  • Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency

    Nashville , TN · TN005 · 7,531 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6152528410

  • Tennessee Housing Development Agency

    Nashville , TN · TN903 · 6,507 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6158152200

  • Dickson Housing Authority

    Dickson , TN · TN079 · 1,372 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6154469371

  • Murfreesboro Housing Authority

    Murfreesboro , TN · TN020 · 947 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6158939414

  • Franklin Housing Authority

    Franklin , TN · TN035 · 337 HCV units

    Status unknown
    6157941247

  • Lebanon Housing Authority

    Lebanon , TN · TN017

    Status unknown
    6154441872

  • Woodbury Housing Authority

    Woodbury , TN · TN077

    Status unknown
    6155635276

  • Columbia Housing and Redevelopment Corporatio

    Columbia , TN · TN046

    Status unknown
    9313885203

  • Gallatin Housing Authority

    Gallatin , TN · TN029

    Status unknown
    6154521661

  • South Carthage Housing Authority

    Carthage , TN · TN072

    Status unknown
    6157351940

  • Portland Housing Authority

    Portland , TN · TN073

    Status unknown
    6153254559

  • Mt. Pleasant Housing Authority

    Mount Pleasant , TN · TN047

    Status unknown
    9313795811

  • Springfield Housing Authority

    Springfield , TN · TN036

    Status unknown
    6153844591

  • Hartsville Housing Authority

    Hartsville , TN · TN071

    Status unknown
    6153743959

  • Lafayette Housing Authority

    Lafayette , TN · TN090

    Status unknown
    6156662140

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Nashville, TN?

Yes. Tennessee law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Nashville, 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 Nashville 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 Nashville?
In the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,051 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $946 to $1,156 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Nashville?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro, by bedroom size: studio $796, 1-bedroom $801, 2-bedroom $1,051, 3-bedroom $1,368, 4-bedroom $1,392. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Nashville?
Section 8 in Nashville is administered by Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency, Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Dickson 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 Nashville

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 TN

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