Section 8 in Seattle, Washington

Which Seattle-area voucher lists are open

HUD treats King and Snohomish counties as one rent area, Seattle-Bellevue. Tacoma and the rest of Pierce County are a separate area with their own rent figures, so we list those agencies last.

1. 1

   Apply to SHA online

   Apply through the SHA Portal from SHA's how-to-apply page. "The chance of being drawn is the same no matter when households apply." Questions: 206-239-1674 or voucherlist@seattlehousing.org. The office at 101 Elliott Ave. W. is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (SHA).

2. 2

   Check in every month

   "To remain on the list, you must also check in once every month using Save My Spot… If you do not do this or we are unable to contact you, we will remove you from the list."

3. 3

   Know who gets drawn first

   Applicants at or below 30% of area median income, or homeless, now or in the prior 12 months, get a preference. Those at 31% to 50% are "returned to the list" until preference applicants are served. Above 50% you are not eligible.

4. 4

   Plan to stay in Seattle a year

   Anyone 18 or older can apply "no matter where they currently live," but people selected "will be required to use the voucher within the city of Seattle for a minimum of one year."

SHA's own apartments (public housing and Seattle Senior Housing) have a live online application where you can pick up to two properties in each program. SHA posts no open-or-closed statement for that list. SHA also runs special-purpose vouchers (FYI, FUP, VASH and Creating Moves to Opportunity) through referral programs.

SHA payment standards and utility estimates

SHA uses one citywide schedule, not limits by ZIP. "Market Rate" applies to most private apartments; "Affordable Housing" applies to nonprofit or tax-credit units. The market-rate figures were adopted November 20, 2023 and took effect November 21, 2023. They now sit at 96% to 99% of HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, which took effect October 1, 2026. Ask SHA whether a new schedule is coming.

Worked example: a two-bedroom apartment in Seattle

A hypothetical household with $3,000 a month in adjusted income rents a private-market two-bedroom for $2,300. It pays electricity and electric heat; the landlord pays water, sewer and garbage. SHA's estimate for that is $85. The base share is $900; at move-in the household's share cannot exceed $1,200, 40% of income.

Seattle-area income limits for 2026

These HUD limits cover King and Snohomish counties. SHA admits households at or below 50% of area median income and gives a preference at or below 30%.

Can a Seattle landlord refuse Section 8?

No, not because of the voucher. Washington's RCW 59.18.255, in force since September 30, 2018, bars landlords statewide from refusing to rent because of "source of income," which includes housing assistance. Seattle has protected Section 8 holders for decades and added its "alternative source of income" rules in the Open Housing Ordinance, SMC chapter 14.08, on September 19, 2016 (Seattle Office for Civil Rights).

• Income tests: under state law, "any source of income in the form of a rent voucher or subsidy must be subtracted from the total of the monthly rent prior to calculating if the income criteria have been met." Seattle’s ordinance says the same.
• Ads: a landlord may not advertise "a preference, limitation, or requirement based on any source of income."
• The repair exception: a landlord may refuse if the subsidy requires an inspection, a written estimate of repairs needed to pass is over $1,500, and the landlord has not received state landlord mitigation money for them.
• First in time: Seattle landlords must post their screening criteria and offer the unit to the first qualified applicant, in the order complete applications arrive (SMC 14.08.050; SOCR). The Washington Supreme Court upheld the rule on November 14, 2019.
• Remedies: under the state law a landlord can be liable for up to four and a half times the monthly rent, plus court costs and attorneys’ fees.

This is general information, not legal advice. Some housing may be exempt from Seattle’s ordinance; check with SOCR before you rely on it.

Moving a voucher into or out of Seattle

1. 1

   Coming to Seattle

   Ask your current agency to send your file, then email SHA's portability specialist at portgroup@seattlehousing.org (206-239-1521), attend an orientation and turn in your Request for Tenancy Approval. "SHA is currently billing for all port-ins" (SHA). SHA issues studio vouchers to single-person households.

2. 2

   Coming to King County outside Seattle

   KCHA says "We accept all incoming port requests." Send them to Portability@kcha.org or 700 Andover Park West, Tukwila. Processing takes up to 10 business days, and KCHA adds 30 days to the incoming voucher's expiration (KCHA).

3. 3

   Leaving Seattle

   "You may take your voucher outside of Seattle only if you have already leased a unit with your voucher in Seattle for at least one year, you are in good standing with SHA and in good standing with your landlord." Moves within Seattle are limited to one a year.

4. 4

   Get search help

   Call SHA’s housing counselors at 206-239-1739, or email them.

For families with children, SHA's Family Access Supplement adds subsidy for homes in 11 neighborhoods: Broadview, Green Lake, Interbay, Magnolia, Maple Leaf, Northgate, North Ballard, North Queen Anne, Ravenna, the University District and Wallingford.

• Seattle Housing Authority profile

  Programs and contacts.

• King County Housing Authority profile

  King County outside Seattle and Renton.

• Section 8 in King County

  County agencies and income limits.

• Section 8 in Snohomish County

  Everett and HASCO.

• Section 8 apartments in Seattle

  Listings that take vouchers.

• Section 8 in Washington

  Statewide guide.