Section 8 in Hancock County, ME
382 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Hancock County, 73% utilized. 5 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Hancock County (FY2027)
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) | $1,163 | $1,047 to $1,279 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,171 | $1,054 to $1,288 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,484 | $1,336 to $1,632 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,050 | $1,845 to $2,255 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,198 | $1,978 to $2,418 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Hancock County is $1,484. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,336 to $1,632, 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.
Section 8 income limits in Hancock County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Hancock County that is $50,600 a year for a family of four, about $4,210 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $101,200.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $21,250 | $35,450 | $56,700 |
| 2 people | $24,300 | $40,500 | $64,800 |
| 3 people | $27,350 | $45,550 | $72,900 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $50,600 | $80,950 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $54,650 | $87,450 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $58,700 | $93,950 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $62,750 | $100,400 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $66,800 | $106,900 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. Federal rules generally require at least 75% of admissions from the waiting list each year to be extremely low income families. This does not predict selection or waiting time. For a family of four here, that threshold is $33,000 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the income limit is only one part of eligibility and does not guarantee admission.
Compare your household income with Section 8 limits and see how monthly income becomes an annual estimate.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Hancock County, ME, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Hancock County?
In most of the state, yes. Maine has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Hancock County can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
Maine Human Rights Act, 5 M.R.S. §4582
Statute protects recipients of housing assistance, but Dussault v. RRE Coach Lantern Holdings (2014) lets landlords refuse voucher tenants over program requirements. Portland has its own ordinance. 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.
Landlord and investor tools for Hancock County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Hancock County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Maine ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MaineExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MaineMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
Housing authorities serving Hancock County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. Confirm the administering agency on your voucher and whether it can serve the proposed address; a ZIP code alone does not settle jurisdiction or portability.
Ellsworth Housing Authority
Ellsworth · PHA code ME027
382 Section 8 unitsSouthwest Harbor Housing Authority
Southwest Harbor · PHA code ME022
50 units totalBar Harbor Housing Authority
Bar Harbor · PHA code ME023
115 units totalTremont Housing Authority
Bass Harbor · PHA code ME026
22 units totalMount Desert Housing Authority
Mount Desert · PHA code ME024
18 units total
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Hancock County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Hancock County, ME is $35,450 for one person, $40,500 for two, $45,550 for three and $50,600 for a family of four. Limits vary by household size. The agency also checks other eligibility requirements and any applicable exceptions.
- What counts as extremely low income in Hancock County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Hancock County is $21,250 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. Housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to families at or below this level.
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Hancock County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Hancock County is $1,484 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $1,336 to $1,632. This is not a household rent limit. ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ; ask your agency for its adopted standard and the unit's utility allowance.
- Who runs Section 8 in Hancock County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Hancock County are administered by Ellsworth Housing Authority, Southwest Harbor Housing Authority, Bar Harbor Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. Each authority keeps its own waiting lists and eligibility preferences. Check each official application notice; applying to one agency does not apply to the others.
Find Section 8 apartments in Hancock County
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.
Nearby Maine counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 55,851 · FIPS 23009.