How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Olympia?

In the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,960 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,764 to $2,156 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.

What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Olympia?

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,538, 1-bedroom $1,682, 2-bedroom $1,960, 3-bedroom $2,613, 4-bedroom $3,288. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.

How do I apply for Section 8 in Olympia?

Section 8 in Olympia is administered by Ha of Thurston County. 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.

Section 8 in Olympia, WA, WA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA 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)

$1,960

HUD

Active vouchers

2,345

82% utilized

Housing authorities

serving this metro

Voucher protection

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.

Bedrooms	FMR	Payment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)	$1,538	$1,384 to $1,692
1-bedroom	$1,682	$1,514 to $1,850
2-bedroom	$1,960	$1,764 to $2,156
3-bedroom	$2,613	$2,352 to $2,874
4-bedroom	$3,288	$2,959 to $3,617

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Olympia covers up to $1,960 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,764 to $2,156.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers

2,345

Occupied

1,915

Utilization

82%

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 Olympia

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

Ha of Thurston County
Olympia , WA · WA049 · 2,345 HCV units
Status unknown
3607538292

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Olympia, WA?

No. Washington law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Olympia, WA. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.

Washington HB 2578 (2018) bans SOI discrimination. Reasonable "screening" restrictions apply only to your share of rent.

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

Counties in the Olympia metro

County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.

Thurston County

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Olympia?: In the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,960 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,764 to $2,156 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Olympia?: HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,538, 1-bedroom $1,682, 2-bedroom $1,960, 3-bedroom $2,613, 4-bedroom $3,288. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Olympia?: Section 8 in Olympia is administered by Ha of Thurston County. 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 Olympia

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 listings List your unit free

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