Section 8 apartments in Washington, DC

Washington 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 37 neighborhoods where we track voucher-friendly search demand.

Voucher discrimination is illegal here

DC's Human Rights Act (D.C. Law 2-38, 1977 — SOI added 2005) prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income. One of the oldest and strongest SOI laws in the U.S. — applies to all landlords citywide with no unit floor. Enforcement via the DC Office of Human Rights.

DC Human Rights Act (D.C. Law 2-38)

Section 8 payment standards — ZIP 20005

Small-Area FMR · 2026

Bedrooms	Payment standard / mo
Studio	$2,530
1 bedroom	$2,610
2 bedrooms	$2,910
3 bedrooms	$3,670
4 bedrooms	$4,320

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

DC Housing Authority (DCHA)

HUD PHA code DC001 · 16,525 HCV vouchers

Waitlist closed

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

DCHA administers Section 8 HCV citywide AND the DC-only LRSP program. HCV waitlist status varies — check dchousing.org or call (202) 535-1000.

Address: 300 7th Street SW, Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 535-1000
Website: https://www.dchousing.org

Apply on the PHA site →

Community Connections

HUD PHA code DC880 · 298 HCV vouchers

Call to confirm

Waitlist status changes frequently — call the PHA directly to confirm before applying.

Address: 801 Pennsylvania Ave Se Ste 201 , Washington , DC
Phone: 2026084764

Browse by neighborhood

37 neighborhoods

More Washington neighborhoods

Browse by WMATA Metrorail + VRE + DC Circulator line

10 lines

Browse by ZIP code

18 ZIP codes

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