Section 8 in Polk County, FL
2,551 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Polk County, 84% utilized. 5 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Polk County (FY2026)
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.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,226 | $1,103 to $1,349 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,230 | $1,107 to $1,353 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,497 | $1,347 to $1,647 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,023 | $1,821 to $2,225 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,511 | $2,260 to $2,762 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Polk County covers up to $1,497 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,347 to $1,647.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Polk County?
It depends on the city. Florida has no statewide source-of-income law, but some local ordinances in the state prohibit voucher discrimination. Check whether Polk County sits inside a protected jurisdiction before assuming either way.
No statewide SOI protection. Miami-Dade County (2020) and a few other localities have protections. Elsewhere, landlords may refuse vouchers.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Polk County in the Lakeland metro
Polk County is one of the counties inside the Lakeland, FL core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Lakeland metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Polk County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. The PHA whose jurisdiction covers a unit's ZIP is the one both tenant and landlord will deal with.
Housing Authority of the City of Lakeland
Lakeland · PHA code FL011
1,813 Section 8 unitsWinter Haven Housing Authority
Winter Haven · PHA code FL139
385 Section 8 unitsLake Wales Housing Authority
Lake Wales · PHA code FL071
269 Section 8 unitsHousing Authority of Bartow
Bartow · PHA code FL026
84 Section 8 unitsHousing Authority of the City of Mulberry
Mulberry · PHA code FL054
26 units total
Section 8 rent by ZIP in Polk County
Polk County is in a Small Area FMR metro, so HUD publishes a separate rent limit for each ZIP (FY2026). The 2-bedroom figure is shown; each ZIP page has the full bedroom table.
Find Section 8 apartments in Polk County
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.
Other Florida counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 736,229 · FIPS 12105.