Section 8 in Birmingham, AL: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Birmingham, AL 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) | $1,177 | $1,059 to $1,295 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,263 | $1,137 to $1,389 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,375 | $1,238 to $1,513 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,727 | $1,554 to $1,900 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,941 | $1,747 to $2,135 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Birmingham is $1,375. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,238 to $1,513, 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 Birmingham
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Birmingham, AL metro rose from $1,266 in FY2026 to $1,375 in FY2027, a change of +$109 a month (+8.6%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,024 | $1,177 | +$153 (+14.9%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,155 | $1,263 | +$108 (+9.4%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,266 | $1,375 | +$109 (+8.6%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,583 | $1,727 | +$144 (+9.1%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,801 | $1,941 | +$140 (+7.8%) |
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 Birmingham? 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 Birmingham
15 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
Birmingham , AL · AL001 · 6,438 HCV units
2055210679 - Status unknown
Jefferson County Housing Authority
Birmingham , AL · AL086 · 2,303 HCV units
2058490123 - Status unknown
Ha Bessemer
Bessemer , AL · AL125 · 593 HCV units
2054814420 - Status unknown
Walker County Housing Authority
Dora , AL · AL129 · 496 HCV units
2056485963 - Status unknown
Ha Leeds
Leeds , AL · AL069 · 345 HCV units
2056996223 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Jasper
Jasper , AL · AL012 · 297 HCV units
2053844864 - Status unknown
Ha Columbiana
Columbiana , AL · AL072 · 247 HCV units
2056696921 - Status unknown
H A Oneonta
Oneonta , AL · AL063 · 54 HCV units
2056255955 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Montevallo
Montevallo , AL · AL079
2056657250 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Blountsville, Al
Blountsville , AL · AL134
2565939164 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Brent
Brent , AL · AL151
2059267781 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Calera
Calera , AL · AL085
2056680783 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Carbon Hill
Carbon Hill , AL · AL064
2059244171 - Status unknown
Ha Cordova
Cordova , AL · AL055
2054837454 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Parrish
Parrish , AL · AL153
2056867621
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Birmingham, AL?
In most of the state, yes. Alabama has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Birmingham, AL can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
No statewide source-of-income protection for housing vouchers. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Birmingham 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 Birmingham?
- In the Birmingham, AL metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,375 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,238 to $1,513. 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 Birmingham?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Birmingham, AL metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,177, 1-bedroom $1,263, 2-bedroom $1,375, 3-bedroom $1,727, 4-bedroom $1,941. 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 Birmingham for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Birmingham, AL metro went from $1,266 in FY2026 to $1,375 in FY2027, an increase of $109 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 Birmingham?
- Section 8 in Birmingham is administered by Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, Jefferson County Housing Authority, Ha Bessemer 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 Birmingham
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.
Other Section 8 markets in AL
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.