Section 8 apartments in Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is a mandatory Small-Area Fair Market Rent metro — the exact rent a Housing Choice Voucher will cover changes ZIP by ZIP. Below are the current payment standards, the governing Public Housing Authority, and the 53 neighborhoods where we track voucher-friendly search demand.

Section 8 waitlists, PHA contacts & how to apply in Baltimore →

Voucher protections vary by locality

Baltimore City's 2019 SOI ordinance predates MD state law but includes a 20%-per-building cap: landlords can legally refuse voucher applicants once voucher-holders occupy 20% of contiguous units. State law (2020 HOME Act) has no such cap and still applies. Public Justice and Maryland Legal Aid have documented weak Baltimore City enforcement of both the local ordinance and the state law — voucher-holder complaints often go unresolved. Practical effect: state law is your stronger legal footing here.

Baltimore City Fair Housing Ordinance (2019, 20%-cap)

Section 8 payment standards — ZIP 21201

Small-Area FMR · 2026

Bedrooms	Payment standard / mo
Studio	$1,430
1 bedroom	$1,590
2 bedrooms	$1,950
3 bedrooms	$2,480
4 bedrooms	$2,740

Payment standards published by HUD. Small-Area FMRs vary by ZIP code — this is the exact ceiling a Housing Choice Voucher will cover for a unit in this ZIP.

Public Housing Authorities

Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC)

HUD PHA code MD002 · 21,280 HCV vouchers

Waitlist closed

This PHA is not accepting new applications at this time. Call for the next opening date.

HABC Section 8 HCV waitlist status varies — HABC opens the waitlist by lottery periodically. Check habc.org or call (410) 396-3232.

Address: 417 East Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD
Phone: (410) 396-3232
Website: https://habc.org

Apply on the PHA site →

Browse by neighborhood

53 neighborhoods

Browse by MTA Maryland (Metro SubwayLink + Light RailLink + MARC + CityLink) line

12 lines

Browse by ZIP code

15 ZIP codes

Baltimore uses Small-Area Fair Market Rents, so the voucher payment standard is different in every ZIP code.

Browse by bedroom count

Own property in Baltimore? A Section 8 voucher may cover more than market rent.

In many Baltimore ZIPs, the Section 8 payment standard beats current market rent. A voucher tenant means guaranteed monthly rent at or above what you'd charge on the open market. List it free today — post the unit, receive applications, and message voucher tenants directly. Your unit would be the first tenants see on this page.

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