New York City · Landlords, caseworkers and voucher holders
Which NYC payment standard applies: NYCHA, HPD or HCR?
Three agencies run Section 8 in New York City, and each posts its own payment standard. Use the agency named on the voucher. HPD’s posted standards are still the ones effective January 1, 2024, so a search for “HPD payment standards 2025” or “2026” leads to the same official table. NYCHA’s current schedules took effect January 1, 2026.
1
Find the agency name
It is printed on the voucher, the briefing packet or the last recertification letter: NYCHA, HPD or HCR.
2
Pick the right schedule
NYCHA: new rental or recertification column. HPD: the metro amount, or the exception amount if the unit's ZIP code is listed.
3
Use the smaller unit size
The standard applies to the voucher size or the unit size, whichever is smaller. Rent plus the utility allowance is compared against it.
NYC Section 8 payment standards by administering agency, two-bedroom example, checked October 20, 2026
Agency
What it posts
Effective
Two-bedroom standard
NYCHA Section 8Households whose voucher letters and recertification notices come from NYCHA's Leased Housing Department.
What it posts: Two schedules: new rentals and transfers, and annual recertifications. Since July 1, 2026, NYCHA no longer uses exception (ZIP code) payment standards for new rentals and transfers. NYCHA payment standards and utility allowances
Effective: January 1, 2026
Two-bedroom standard: $2,997 new rental or transfer; $3,058 annual recertification
HPD Section 8Households whose voucher is administered by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
What it posts: One metro schedule, plus higher exception payment standards in 101 of the 138 ZIP codes in HPD's PDF. Utility allowances are on a separate schedule, effective February 1, 2026. HPD subsidy and payment standards
Effective: January 1, 2024, still the posted schedule. There is no separate 2025 or 2026 HPD table.
Two-bedroom standard: $3,027 at the metro standard; up to $4,543 in the highest exception ZIP codes
NYS HCR Section 8Households whose voucher is administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Subsidy Services Bureau.
What it posts: HCR's Subsidy Services Bureau page does not post a New York City payment standard table. HCR Subsidy Services Bureau
Effective: Not posted
Two-bedroom standard: Ask the Subsidy Services Bureau, (212) 480-6672, before you set a rent
Sources: the agency pages linked in each row and HPD’s payment standard and exception payment standard PDF (“last published January 1, 2024”), all read October 20, 2026. A payment standard is a ceiling for rent plus the utility allowance. It is not an approved rent: the agency also checks rent reasonableness and the household’s share.
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