Section 8 in Stearns County, MN
1,313 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Stearns County, 87% utilized. 4 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Stearns 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) | $874 | $787 to $961 |
| 1-bedroom | $919 | $827 to $1,011 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,206 | $1,085 to $1,327 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,604 | $1,444 to $1,764 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,873 | $1,686 to $2,060 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Stearns County covers up to $1,206 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,085 to $1,327.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Stearns County?
No. Minnesota law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Stearns County. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
Minnesota bans SOI discrimination statewide as of 2023.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Stearns County in the St. Cloud metro
Stearns County is one of the counties inside the St. Cloud, MN core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See St. Cloud metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Stearns 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.
Hra of St. Cloud, Minnesota
Saint Cloud · PHA code MN038
1,022 Section 8 unitsStearns County Hra
Cold Spring · PHA code MN172
291 Section 8 unitsHra of City of Melrose, Minnesota
Melrose · PHA code MN065
30 units totalHra of Sauk Centre, Minnesota
Sauk Centre · PHA code MN028
40 units total
Find Section 8 apartments in Stearns 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 Minnesota counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 158,622 · FIPS 27145.