Section 8 in Cape Girardeau, MO: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 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) | $757 | $681 to $833 |
| 1-bedroom | $833 | $750 to $916 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,012 | $911 to $1,113 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,401 | $1,261 to $1,541 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,692 | $1,523 to $1,861 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Cape Girardeau is $1,012. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $911 to $1,113, 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 Cape Girardeau
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro rose from $992 in FY2026 to $1,012 in FY2027, a change of +$20 a month (+2.0%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $763 | $757 | -$6 (-0.8%) |
| 1-bedroom | $807 | $833 | +$26 (+3.2%) |
| 2-bedroom | $992 | $1,012 | +$20 (+2.0%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,380 | $1,401 | +$21 (+1.5%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,664 | $1,692 | +$28 (+1.7%) |
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 Cape Girardeau? 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.
Housing authorities serving Cape Girardeau
1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Alexander County Housing Authority
Cairo , IL · IL007
6187341910
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Cape Girardeau, MO?
In most of the state, yes. Missouri has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Cape Girardeau, MO can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §441.043 (HB 595, 2025)
Nullified Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, Clayton and Webster Groves ordinances. 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 Cape Girardeau?
- In the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,012 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $911 to $1,113. 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 Cape Girardeau?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro, by bedroom size: studio $757, 1-bedroom $833, 2-bedroom $1,012, 3-bedroom $1,401, 4-bedroom $1,692. 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 Cape Girardeau for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro went from $992 in FY2026 to $1,012 in FY2027, an increase of $20 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 Cape Girardeau?
- Section 8 in Cape Girardeau is administered by Alexander County Housing Authority. 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 Cape Girardeau
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 MO
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.