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Section 8 in McMinn County, TN

122 active Housing Choice Vouchers in McMinn County, 72% utilized. 2 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.

Active vouchers
122
Occupied
88
72% utilized
Housing authorities
2
serving this county
Voucher protection
Not protected
Statewide voucher protection research — Tennessee

HUD Fair Market Rents in McMinn 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.

HUD rent benchmarks by home size

McMinn County · FY2027 · dollars per month

  1. Studio$761
  2. 1 bedroom$914
  3. 2 bedrooms$995
  4. 3 bedrooms$1,214
  5. 4 bedrooms$1,308

These include utilities. They are HUD benchmarks, not adopted agency payment standards or the amount a voucher pays.

HUD FY2027 rent data. The table provides the same values.

BedroomsFMRIllustration: 90% to 110% of FMR
Efficiency (studio)$761$685 to $837
1-bedroom$914$823 to $1,005
2-bedroom$995$896 to $1,095
3-bedroom$1,214$1,093 to $1,335
4-bedroom$1,308$1,177 to $1,439

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for McMinn County is $995. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $896 to $1,095, 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 McMinn County

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for McMinn County, TN rose from $926 in FY2026 to $995 in FY2027, a change of +$69 a month (+7.5%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

BedroomsFY2026FY2027Change
Efficiency (studio)$725$761+$36 (+5.0%)
1-bedroom$845$914+$69 (+8.2%)
2-bedroom$926$995+$69 (+7.5%)
3-bedroom$1,151$1,214+$63 (+5.5%)
4-bedroom$1,226$1,308+$82 (+6.7%)

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 McMinn 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 McMinn 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 McMinn County that is $39,600 a year for a family of four, about $3,300 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $79,200.

Swipe or scroll the table to see all three income columns.

HUD FY2026 income limits for McMinn County, annual dollars by household size
Household sizeExtremely lowVery low (50%)Low (80%)
1 person$16,650$27,750$44,350
2 people$21,640$31,700$50,700
3 people$27,320$35,650$57,050
4 people$33,000$39,600$63,350
5 people$38,680$42,800$68,450
6 people$44,360$45,950$73,500
7 people$49,150$49,150$78,600
8 people$52,300$52,300$83,650

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 McMinn County, TN, huduser.gov.

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in McMinn County?

A statewide voucher-specific protection has not been identified for Tennessee. Local laws, federal fair-housing duties and property funding requirements may still apply in McMinn County; confirm the property and jurisdiction before assuming a refusal is lawful.

Statewide voucher protection research — Tennessee

No statewide voucher protection is identified in the cited research. Memphis’s fair housing ordinance includes Section 8 in its source-of-income definition. Confirm current coverage and the complaint process with the city.

View statute →

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

McMinn County in the Athens metro

Metro vouchers
122
Metro utilization
72%
Type
Micropolitan
CBSA 11940

McMinn County is one of the counties inside the Athens, TN core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.

See Athens metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →

Landlord and investor tools for McMinn County

RentalCalcs

Free calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.

Housing authorities serving McMinn 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.

  • Etowah Housing Authority

    Etowah · PHA code TN026

    122 Section 8 units
  • Athens Housing Authority

    Athens · PHA code TN015

    0 Section 8 units

Frequently asked questions

What is the income limit for Section 8 in McMinn County?
For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in McMinn County, TN is $27,750 for one person, $31,700 for two, $35,650 for three and $39,600 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 McMinn County?
HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in McMinn County is $16,650 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 McMinn County?
The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in McMinn County is $995 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $896 to $1,095. 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 McMinn County?
Housing Choice Vouchers in McMinn County are administered by Etowah Housing Authority, Athens 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 McMinn 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 Tennessee counties

Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 53,532 · FIPS 47107.