Section 8 in Trenton, NJ: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Trenton-Princeton, NJ 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.
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.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,561 | $1,405 to $1,717 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,764 | $1,588 to $1,940 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,242 | $2,018 to $2,466 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,741 | $2,467 to $3,015 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,081 | $2,773 to $3,389 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Trenton is $2,242. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $2,018 to $2,466, 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 Trenton
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro rose from $1,950 in FY2026 to $2,242 in FY2027, a change of +$292 a month (+15.0%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,344 | $1,561 | +$217 (+16.1%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,545 | $1,764 | +$219 (+14.2%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,950 | $2,242 | +$292 (+15.0%) |
| 3-bedroom | $2,338 | $2,741 | +$403 (+17.2%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,670 | $3,081 | +$411 (+15.4%) |
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 Trenton? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Voucher demand in this metro
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 Trenton
5 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
State of Nj Dept. of Comm. Affairs
Trenton , NJ · NJ912 · 25,164 HCV units
6096336204 - Status unknown
Hamilton Township Ha
Hamilton , NJ · NJ212 · 227 HCV units
6098903677 - Status unknown
Hightstown Housing Authority
Hightstown , NJ · NJ045
6094482268 - Status unknown
Princeton Housing Authority
Princeton , NJ · NJ027
6099243448 - Status unknown
Trenton Housing Authority
Trenton , NJ · NJ005
6092785042
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Trenton, NJ?
No. New Jersey law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Trenton, NJ. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
NJ Law Against Discrimination §10:5-12.5(g)
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (§10:5-12.5(g)) prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income including Section 8 vouchers. Statewide protection.
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 Trenton 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 Trenton?
- In the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $2,242 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $2,018 to $2,466. 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 Trenton?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,561, 1-bedroom $1,764, 2-bedroom $2,242, 3-bedroom $2,741, 4-bedroom $3,081. 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 Trenton for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro went from $1,950 in FY2026 to $2,242 in FY2027, an increase of $292 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 Trenton?
- Section 8 in Trenton is administered by State of Nj Dept. of Comm. Affairs, Hamilton Township Ha, Hightstown Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. 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 Trenton
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.