How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Ames?

In the Ames, IA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,061 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $955 to $1,167. 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 Ames?

HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Ames, IA metro, by bedroom size: studio $891, 1-bedroom $944, 2-bedroom $1,061, 3-bedroom $1,469, 4-bedroom $1,768. 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 Ames for FY2027?

The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Ames, IA metro went from $1,153 in FY2026 to $1,061 in FY2027, a decrease of $92 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.

Section 8 in Ames, IA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Ames, IA 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)

$1,061

HUD

Active vouchers

—

Housing authorities

Voucher protection

Not protected

Iowa Code §§331.304(13), 364.3(13) (2021)

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)	$891	$802 to $980
1-bedroom	$944	$850 to $1,038
2-bedroom	$1,061	$955 to $1,167
3-bedroom	$1,469	$1,322 to $1,616
4-bedroom	$1,768	$1,591 to $1,945

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Ames is $1,061. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $955 to $1,167, 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 Ames

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Ames, IA metro fell from $1,153 in FY2026 to $1,061 in FY2027, a change of -$92 a month (-8.0%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

Bedrooms	FY2026	FY2027	Change
Efficiency (studio)	$972	$891	-$81 (-8.3%)
1-bedroom	$1,026	$944	-$82 (-8.0%)
2-bedroom	$1,153	$1,061	-$92 (-8.0%)
3-bedroom	$1,601	$1,469	-$132 (-8.2%)
4-bedroom	$1,934	$1,768	-$166 (-8.6%)

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 Ames? 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.

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Ames, IA?

In most of the state, yes. Iowa has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Ames, IA can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

Iowa Code §§331.304(13), 364.3(13) (2021)

Voided Des Moines, Iowa City and Marion ordinances as of January 1, 2023. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).

View statute →

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Ames?: In the Ames, IA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,061 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $955 to $1,167. 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 Ames?: HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Ames, IA metro, by bedroom size: studio $891, 1-bedroom $944, 2-bedroom $1,061, 3-bedroom $1,469, 4-bedroom $1,768. 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 Ames for FY2027?: The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Ames, IA metro went from $1,153 in FY2026 to $1,061 in FY2027, a decrease of $92 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.

Find Section 8 apartments in Ames

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.

Browse voucher-friendly listings in Ames List your unit free

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