Section 8 in Essex County, NJ
12,023 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Essex County, 86% utilized. 6 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Essex 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) | $1,612 | $1,451 to $1,773 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,822 | $1,640 to $2,004 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,205 | $1,985 to $2,426 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,761 | $2,485 to $3,037 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,137 | $2,823 to $3,451 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Essex County covers up to $2,205 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,985 to $2,426.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Essex County?
No. New Jersey law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Essex County. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
NJ Law Against Discrimination §10:5-12.5(g)
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (§10:5-12.5(g)) prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income including Section 8 vouchers. Statewide protection.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Essex County in the New York metro
Essex County is one of the counties inside the New York, NY core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See New York metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Essex 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.
Newark Housing Authority
Newark · PHA code NJ002
8,481 Section 8 unitsEast Orange Housing Authority
East Orange · PHA code NJ050
1,596 Section 8 unitsHousing Authority of the City of Orange
Orange · PHA code NJ025
748 Section 8 unitsIrvington Housing Authority
Irvington · PHA code NJ037
474 Section 8 unitsMontclair Housing Authority
Montclair · PHA code NJ086
325 Section 8 unitsBloomfield Township Ha
Bloomfield · PHA code NJ099
275 Section 8 units
Section 8 rent by ZIP in Essex County
Essex 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 Essex 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 New Jersey counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 853,374 · FIPS 34013.