Section 8 in Lawrence County, MO
HUD rent limits, income limits and housing authorities for Lawrence County. 2 housing authorities serve this county.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Lawrence 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) | $719 | $647 to $791 |
| 1-bedroom | $746 | $671 to $821 |
| 2-bedroom | $976 | $878 to $1,074 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,292 | $1,163 to $1,421 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,505 | $1,355 to $1,656 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Lawrence County is $976. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $878 to $1,074, 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.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in Lawrence County
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Lawrence County, MO rose from $888 in FY2026 to $976 in FY2027, a change of +$88 a month (+9.9%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $660 | $719 | +$59 (+8.9%) |
| 1-bedroom | $677 | $746 | +$69 (+10.2%) |
| 2-bedroom | $888 | $976 | +$88 (+9.9%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,169 | $1,292 | +$123 (+10.5%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,337 | $1,505 | +$168 (+12.6%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in Lawrence County? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.
Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Section 8 income limits in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County that is $41,550 a year for a family of four, about $3,460 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $83,100.
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $17,500 | $29,100 | $46,550 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $33,250 | $53,200 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $37,400 | $59,850 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $41,550 | $66,500 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $44,900 | $71,850 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $48,200 | $77,150 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $51,550 | $82,500 |
| 8 people | $54,850 | $54,850 | $87,800 |
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. The extremely low column matters for how fast you are reached: housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to extremely low income families, which for a family of four here means $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 limit makes you eligible; it does not move you up a closed or full waiting list.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Lawrence County, MO, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Lawrence County?
Yes. Missouri law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Lawrence County can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Mo. Rev. Stat. §441.043 (HB 595, 2025)
Nullified Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, Clayton and Webster Groves ordinances. 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 Lawrence County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Lawrence County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Missouri ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MissouriExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MissouriMarket 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 Lawrence 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.
Aurora Housing Authority
Aurora · PHA code MO071
64 units totalMarionville Housing Authority
Marionville · PHA code MO081
24 units total
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Lawrence County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Lawrence County, MO is $29,100 for one person, $33,250 for two, $37,400 for three and $41,550 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 Lawrence County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Lawrence County is $17,500 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 Lawrence County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lawrence County is $976 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $878 to $1,074. 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 Lawrence County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Lawrence County are administered by Aurora Housing Authority, Marionville Housing Authority. 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 Lawrence 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 Missouri counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 38,231 · FIPS 29109.