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Section 8 in Staunton, VA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area. FY2027 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 (FY2027)
$1,199
HUD
Active vouchers
739
83% utilized
Housing authorities
2
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Protected
Virginia Fair Housing Law (HB 6, 2020)

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.

BedroomsFMRIllustration: 90% to 110% of FMR
Efficiency (studio)$1,041$937 to $1,145
1-bedroom$1,047$942 to $1,152
2-bedroom$1,199$1,079 to $1,319
3-bedroom$1,634$1,471 to $1,797
4-bedroom$1,798$1,618 to $1,978

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Staunton is $1,199. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,079 to $1,319, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.

What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Staunton

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro fell from $1,261 in FY2026 to $1,199 in FY2027, a change of -$62 a month (-4.9%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

BedroomsFY2026FY2027Change
Efficiency (studio)$1,088$1,041-$47 (-4.3%)
1-bedroom$1,095$1,047-$48 (-4.4%)
2-bedroom$1,261$1,199-$62 (-4.9%)
3-bedroom$1,734$1,634-$100 (-5.8%)
4-bedroom$1,941$1,798-$143 (-7.4%)

The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.

Already renting with a voucher in Staunton? Under standard HCV rules, a lower payment standard does not cut your subsidy right away. Moving to Work agencies may use different policies. The housing authority may keep your current payment standard for as long as you stay in the same unit. If it decides to lower it, the reduction cannot start sooner than two years after the decrease takes effect, and only after it sends you the required notice (24 CFR 982.505(c)(3)). Families who are new to the program, or who move to a different unit, get the schedule in effect at that time.

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
739
Occupied
616
Utilization
83%

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 Staunton

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

  • Waynesboro Redevelopment & Housing Authority

    Waynesboro , VA · VA022 · 486 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5409469230
  • Staunton Redevelopment & Housing Authority

    Staunton , VA · VA023 · 253 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5408863413

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Staunton, VA?

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

Virginia Fair Housing Law (HB 6, 2020)

Virginia's HB 6 (2020) added source of income to the list of protected classes under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. Applies statewide to all landlords regardless of unit count. Enforcement via Virginia DPOR / Virginia Fair Housing Office.

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 Staunton 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 Staunton?
In the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,199 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,079 to $1,319. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in Staunton?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,041, 1-bedroom $1,047, 2-bedroom $1,199, 3-bedroom $1,634, 4-bedroom $1,798. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
Did Section 8 rent limits change in Staunton for FY2027?
The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro went from $1,261 in FY2026 to $1,199 in FY2027, a decrease of $62 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Staunton?
Section 8 in Staunton is administered by Waynesboro Redevelopment & Housing Authority, Staunton Redevelopment & Housing Authority. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.

Find Section 8 apartments in Staunton

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.

Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.