VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Columbia, SC, SC: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Columbia, SC metro area. FY2026 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 (FY2026)
$1,009
HUD
Active vouchers
6,940
86% utilized
Housing authorities
3
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Not protected

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$844$760 to $928
1-bedroom$849$764 to $934
2-bedroom$1,009$908 to $1,110
3-bedroom$1,214$1,093 to $1,335
4-bedroom$1,458$1,312 to $1,604

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Columbia covers up to $1,009 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $908 to $1,110.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
6,940
Occupied
5,967
Utilization
86%

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 Columbia

3 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Columbia

    Columbia , SC · SC002 · 4,723 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8032543886

  • Sc State Housing Authority

    Columbia , SC · SC911 · 2,217 HCV units

    Status unknown
    8038968888

  • Housing Authority of the City of Cayce

    Columbia , SC · SC061

    Status unknown
    8032543886

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Columbia, SC?

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

No statewide SOI protection in South Carolina. Landlords can refuse vouchers.

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

Counties in the Columbia 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 Columbia?
In the Columbia, SC metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,009 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $908 to $1,110 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Columbia?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Columbia, SC metro, by bedroom size: studio $844, 1-bedroom $849, 2-bedroom $1,009, 3-bedroom $1,214, 4-bedroom $1,458. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Columbia?
Section 8 in Columbia is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Columbia, Sc State Housing Authority, Housing Authority of the City of Cayce. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.

Find Section 8 apartments in Columbia

VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.

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Other Section 8 markets in SC

Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.