Section 8 in Baltimore City, MD
27,996 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Baltimore City, 95% utilized. 1 housing authority serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Baltimore City (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) | $1,362 | $1,226 to $1,498 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,511 | $1,360 to $1,662 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,857 | $1,671 to $2,043 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,358 | $2,122 to $2,594 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,611 | $2,350 to $2,872 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Baltimore City covers up to $1,857 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,671 to $2,043.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Baltimore City?
No. Maryland law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Baltimore City. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
MD HOME Act (HB 231, effective October 2020)
Maryland HOME Act (HB 231, 2020) prohibits source-of-income discrimination statewide. Applies to all landlords regardless of unit count. Enforcement via the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Baltimore City in the Baltimore metro
Baltimore City is one of the counties inside the Baltimore, MD core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Baltimore metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Baltimore City
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 Baltimore City (HABC)
Baltimore · PHA code MD002
21,280 Section 8 units
Find Section 8 apartments in Baltimore City
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 Maryland counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 584,548 · FIPS 24510.