Section 8 · Ohio
Section 8 Housing in Ohio
You can apply now in Cleveland and Columbus. On October 22, 2026, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority accepted preliminary voucher applications at any time, and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority accepted applications from all applicants. Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Stark County post their lists as closed.
Ohio has no statewide voucher law, so whether a landlord can refuse your voucher depends on the city.
By the VoucherMatch Editorial Team · Sources reviewed October 22, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026 · Independent guide, not a housing agency
Is Section 8 open in Ohio?
Yes, in the two largest counties. Ohio has no statewide voucher list: county housing authorities run their own. On October 22, 2026, Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) was taking preliminary applications at any time, and Columbus said it accepts applications from all applicants. Most other large agencies post their lists as closed.
| Agency | Vouchers | Posted status | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga MHA (Cleveland) | 16,020 | Open: applications “accepted at any time”; lottery, no closing date | 216-431-1471 opt. 6 |
| Columbus MHA | 15,413 | Applications “accepted from all applicants”; selections in process | 614-421-6000 |
| Cincinnati MHA | 12,013 | Closed | 513-721-4580 |
| Akron MHA | 5,438 | No status posted; estimated wait 24–36 months | 330-252-9284 (status line) |
| Greater Dayton Premier Management | 4,905 | Closed | 937-910-7500 |
| Lucas MHA (Toledo) | 4,745 | Closed | 419-246-3183 |
| Raise Up (Lorain MHA) | 3,168 | No voucher status posted; Foster Senior Lofts list opened July 22, 2026 | |
| Stark MHA (Canton) | 1,861 | Closed | 330-454-8051 ext. 310 |
Voucher counts: HUD’s public housing agency dataset. Status text: each agency’s own page. Butler County and Youngstown housing authorities had no official site we could verify. A portal that loads is not proof a list is open; the two open routes above say so in the agencies’ own words.
How to apply in Cleveland and Columbus
- Cuyahoga County: submit a preliminary application online. It stays active for 18 months, lottery draws are ongoing, and anyone who applied in earlier years must reapply (CMHA voucher page).
- Franklin County: apply through Columbus MHA’s online waitlist portal. Vouchers are limited, and families and people with disabilities get preferences.
- Apply only on the agency’s own site. Applying is free; the same scam rules apply as anywhere.
Track openings on our verified waiting-list page and find every county agency in the Ohio housing authority directory.
Columbus cut its payment standard on August 1, 2026
Citing a projected federal funding shortfall, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority lowered its payment standards from 110% to 100% of HUD’s Fair Market Rent on August 1, 2026. Leases in effect before then keep the old standard through their original term; new leases, moves and new contracts use the lower one (CMHA landlord letter). Its metro two-bedroom standard is now $1,430 (schedule effective August 1, 2026).
| Step | At 110% ($1,573) | At 100% ($1,430) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross rent | $1,550 | $1,550 |
| Housing assistance: lower of standard or gross rent, minus $600 | $950 | $830 |
| Household’s total share | $600 | $720 |
| Household pays the landlord (share minus $130 allowance) | $470 | $590 |
VoucherMatch calculation. $1,573 = $1,430 × 1.1 (the former 110% level). The household ($24,000 adjusted annual income, so a $600 share) and the rent are hypothetical. On a new lease, the same apartment now costs this household $120 more a month.
Worked example: a $1,420 two-bedroom in Columbus on a new lease after August 1, 2026
- Gross rent$1,550
$1,420 rent to owner + $130 utility allowance (hypothetical $130 allowance for tenant-paid utilities)
- Compare with the payment standard$1,430
Gross rent is $120 above the $1,430 Columbus MHA metro standard; the household pays that difference.
- Household’s base payment$600
30% of adjusted monthly income for a household with $24,000 in adjusted annual income
- Housing assistance$830
lower of standard or gross rent ($1,430) − $600
- Household pays the owner$590
$720 total share − $130 allowance, plus its own utility bills
Move-in affordability check: the household’s total share is $720; the first-lease ceiling is 40% of adjusted monthly income, $800. This example passes.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Ohio?
It depends on the city. Ohio’s civil rights law does not list source of income for housing (R.C. 4112.02(H)), so protection comes from local ordinances. About 22 Ohio cities and villages have one (PRRAC, March 2026).
| City | Protection | How it is enforced |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | Yes: Ord. 0494-2021, effective July 1, 2021 | Criminal prosecution only; no private lawsuit |
| Cincinnati | Yes: Municipal Code § 740-11 (1980) | Private lawsuit: actual damages or $300, plus fees |
| Toledo | Yes: Ord. 490-20 (2020) | Toledo Human Rights Commission |
| Akron | Yes: Ord. 112-2021 | Akron Civil Rights Commission |
| Dayton | Yes: Ord. 32024-23 (March 2023); small owner-occupied buildings exempt | Dayton Human Relations Council |
| Cleveland | No city ordinance | Suburbs such as Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and University Heights have their own |
Sources: PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026) and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Ohio Advisory Committee report (October 2024). Other cities listed by PRRAC include Athens, Bexley, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall and Worthington. University Heights’ protection is being challenged in court, and a 2026 repeal ordinance was tabled.
A 2022 state law (HB 430, R.C. 5321.19) bars local rules that conflict with Ohio’s landlord-tenant chapter. It does not name source of income, no court has applied it to these ordinances, and several cities have passed voucher protections since. Treat local protection as in force, but expect it to be tested.
General information, not legal advice.
Section 8 income limits in Ohio
| HUD area | 50%, 1 person | 50%, 4 people | 80%, 4 people | 2BR FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus (ZIP-level FMRs) | $39,050 | $55,750 | $89,200 | $1,602 |
| Cincinnati (ZIP-level FMRs) | $38,500 | $54,950 | $87,900 | $1,442 |
| Cleveland (ZIP-level FMRs) | $36,750 | $52,500 | $84,000 | $1,274 |
| Dayton (ZIP-level FMRs) | $36,050 | $51,500 | $82,400 | $1,248 |
| Akron (ZIP-level FMRs) | $34,000 | $48,550 | $77,700 | $1,231 |
| Toledo | $33,400 | $47,700 | $76,300 | $1,145 |
| Canton-Massillon | $31,650 | $45,200 | $72,300 | $1,049 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $30,700 | $43,850 | $70,150 | $1,003 |
Sources: HUD FY2026 income limits and FY2027 Fair Market Rents (effective October 1, 2026), read through the HUD USER API on October 22, 2026. Vouchers generally go to households at or below 50% of median; most new admissions are at or below 30%.
Next steps by city
- Section 8 in Columbus · Cleveland · Cincinnati
- Dayton (and the Montgomery County guide) · Toledo · Akron
- Lorain and Elyria: the Lorain County guide
Section 8 in Ohio: common questions
Is the Section 8 waiting list open in Ohio?
In some counties. As of October 22, 2026, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (Cleveland area) accepts preliminary voucher applications at any time and selects by lottery, and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority says applications are accepted from all applicants while it makes selections. Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Stark County post their voucher lists as closed.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Cleveland?
Submit a preliminary application to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority online. Applications are accepted any time, stay active for 18 months, and are drawn by lottery with no closing date. If you applied in earlier years, CMHA says you must reapply.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Ohio?
It depends on the city. Ohio has no statewide source-of-income law, but about 22 cities and villages protect voucher holders, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Dayton and suburbs such as Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and Worthington. The City of Cleveland has no such ordinance.
What did the Columbus Section 8 payment standard change do?
On August 1, 2026, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority lowered its payment standards from 110% to 100% of HUD’s Fair Market Rent because of a projected funding shortfall. Existing leases keep the old standard until their term ends; new leases and moves use the lower one. Its metro two-bedroom standard became $1,430.
What are the Section 8 income limits in Ohio?
Vouchers generally go to households at or below 50% of area median income. For a family of four that is $55,750 in the Columbus area, $54,950 in Cincinnati, $52,500 in Cleveland and $47,700 in Toledo (HUD FY2026).
Detailed Ohio county guides
- Franklin County Section 8 guide: how CMHA’s lottery list works, its ZIP payment standards since the August 2026 cut, and Columbus’s voucher protection.
- Hamilton County Section 8 guide: CMHA’s voucher list (closed) and public housing (open), 2026 payment standards for 67 ZIPs, and Cincinnati’s voucher protection.
- Trumbull County Section 8 guide: TMHA in Warren runs vouchers and public housing, no open voucher list posted, 60-day vouchers with no extensions, and HUD’s $1,003 two-bedroom benchmark.
Voucher-friendly listings in Ohio
1 listing
Landlord and investor tools for Ohio
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Ohio ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in OhioExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in OhioMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
Ohio metro guides
In-depth, source-cited guides: waitlist status, voucher-friendly neighborhoods, and who to call if you are turned away.
Cincinnati, OH
pop. 2,271,4791 of 6 PHAs accepting applicants
Cincinnati CMHA’s voucher calculation combines the applicable ZIP and bedroom standard, utilities and household contribution. Use the Cincinnati agency’s documents and tenancy process; another Ohio CMHA or a Northern Ken
See Cincinnati waitlists →
Columbus, OH
pop. 2,180,2711 of 2 PHAs accepting applicants
Use Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority’s RentCafe route for a voucher application and its current documents for an active search. New moves need special attention to the August 1, 2026 payment-standard revision. App
See Columbus waitlists →
Cleveland, OH
pop. 2,158,9321 of 4 PHAs accepting applicants
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority accepts year-round preliminary HCV applications, then selects applicants through lotteries as funding allows. Keep the application active and separate that process from an issued v
See Cleveland waitlists →
All Section 8 markets in Ohio
Sorted by active voucher count. Each metro page has HUD Fair Market Rent by bedroom, the housing authorities that administer vouchers there, and waitlist status.
Cleveland, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 17410
23,345 vouchersCincinnati, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 17140
20,627 vouchersColumbus, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 18140
19,414 vouchersAkron, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 10420
7,387 vouchersDayton, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 19430
7,362 vouchersToledo, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 45780
4,745 vouchersYoungstown, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 49660
3,553 vouchersMansfield, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 31900
2,568 vouchersCanton, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 15940
1,881 vouchersSpringfield, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 44220
1,378 vouchersSandusky, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 41780
1,182 vouchersLima, OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area · CBSA 30620
1,058 vouchers
Section 8 by county in Ohio
County pages show the local voucher count, housing authorities, and metro rollup. Useful when you are looking at a specific address.
- Cuyahoga County17,179 vouchers
- Franklin County15,413 vouchers
- Hamilton County12,006 vouchers
- Summit County5,436 vouchers
- Montgomery County4,905 vouchers
- Lucas County4,745 vouchers
- Lorain County3,168 vouchers
- Butler County3,149 vouchers
- Richland County2,568 vouchers
- Mahoning County2,298 vouchers
- Portage County1,951 vouchers
- Stark County1,881 vouchers
- Lake County1,552 vouchers
- Greene County1,466 vouchers
- Clark County1,378 vouchers
- Trumbull County1,255 vouchers
- Licking County1,252 vouchers
- Erie County1,182 vouchers
- Fairfield County1,106 vouchers
- Allen County1,058 vouchers
- Guernsey County1,014 vouchers
- Clermont County993 vouchers
- Miami County991 vouchers
- Wayne County961 vouchers
- Muskingum County946 vouchers
- Knox County901 vouchers
- Hancock County870 vouchers
- Athens County840 vouchers
- Warren County829 vouchers
- Jefferson County824 vouchers
- Medina County704 vouchers
- Pickaway County661 vouchers
- Marion County655 vouchers
- Scioto County628 vouchers
- Huron County624 vouchers
- Fayette County622 vouchers
- Tuscarawas County619 vouchers
- Columbiana County610 vouchers
- Washington County572 vouchers
- Ross County567 vouchers
- Ashtabula County558 vouchers
- Henry County555 vouchers
- Pike County554 vouchers
- Delaware County447 vouchers
- Sandusky County387 vouchers
- Jackson County334 vouchers
- Darke County318 vouchers
- Hocking County317 vouchers
- Clinton County302 vouchers
- Logan County301 vouchers
- Adams County297 vouchers
- Belmont County279 vouchers
- Harrison County268 vouchers
- Coshocton County257 vouchers
- Shelby County235 vouchers
- Perry County218 vouchers
- Vinton County196 vouchers
- Gallia County188 vouchers
- Geauga County184 vouchers
- Morgan County153 vouchers
- Meigs County129 vouchers
- Lawrence County88 vouchers
- Preble County56 vouchers
- Brown County47 vouchers
- Ashland County
- Auglaize County
- Carroll County
- Champaign County
- Crawford County
- Defiance County
- Fulton County
- Hardin County
- Highland County
- Holmes County
- Madison County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Morrow County
- Noble County
- Ottawa County
- Paulding County
- Putnam County
- Seneca County
- Union County
- Van Wert County
- Williams County
- Wood County
- Wyandot County
Find Section 8 apartments in Ohio
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.