VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Rockford, IL, IL: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Rockford, IL 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)
$1,175
HUD
Active vouchers
3,648
64% utilized
Housing authorities
3
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Protected
Illinois Human Rights Act §5-102(A)

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)$810$729 to $891
1-bedroom$895$806 to $985
2-bedroom$1,175$1,058 to $1,293
3-bedroom$1,555$1,400 to $1,711
4-bedroom$1,594$1,435 to $1,753

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Rockford covers up to $1,175 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,058 to $1,293.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
3,648
Occupied
2,325
Utilization
64%

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 Rockford

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

  • Rockford Housing Authority

    Rockford , IL · IL022 · 2,363 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8154898520

  • Winnebago County Housing Authority

    Rockford , IL · IL083 · 988 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8159632133

  • Housing Authority of the County of Boone

    Belvidere , IL · IL122 · 297 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8155440084

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Rockford, IL?

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

Illinois Human Rights Act §5-102(A)

Illinois Human Rights Act was amended in January 2023 to add source of income (including housing vouchers) as a protected class statewide.

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 Rockford 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 Rockford?
In the Rockford, IL metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,175 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,058 to $1,293 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Rockford?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Rockford, IL metro, by bedroom size: studio $810, 1-bedroom $895, 2-bedroom $1,175, 3-bedroom $1,555, 4-bedroom $1,594. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Rockford?
Section 8 in Rockford is administered by Rockford Housing Authority, Winnebago County Housing Authority, Housing Authority of the County of Boone. 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 Rockford

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 IL

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