Section 8 in Shelby County, TN
9,408 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Shelby County, 93% utilized. 2 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Shelby County?
Yes. Tennessee law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Shelby County can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Tennessee has no source-of-income protection
Tennessee has NO statewide source-of-income protection. The state legislature has been aggressive about preempting local anti-discrimination measures. Landlords can legally decline voucher applicants. Voucher tenants remain a solid financial option — guaranteed monthly rent, often above local market — but the choice is voluntary.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Shelby County in the Memphis metro
Shelby County is one of the counties inside the Memphis, TN core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Memphis metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Shelby 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.
Memphis Housing Authority (MHA)
Memphis · PHA code TN001
9,408 Section 8 unitsMillington Housing Authority
Millington · PHA code TN045
89 units total
Section 8 rent by ZIP in Shelby County
Shelby 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.
- 38002$1,870
- 38016$1,570
- 38017$1,650
- 38018$1,730
- 38029$1,850
- 38053$1,260
- 38054$1,260
- 38103$1,910
- 38104$1,470
- 38105$1,060
- 38106$1,150
- 38107$1,080
- 38108$1,060
- 38109$1,080
- 38111$1,240
- 38112$1,080
- 38113$1,280
- 38114$1,090
- 38115$1,360
- 38116$1,250
- 38117$1,470
- 38118$1,230
- 38119$1,450
- 38120$1,600
- 38122$1,240
- 38125$1,550
- 38126$1,060
- 38127$1,190
- 38128$1,350
- 38131$1,280
- 38132$1,200
- 38133$1,590
- 38134$1,270
- 38135$1,820
- 38138$1,850
- 38139$1,910
- 38141$1,540
- 38152$1,240
Find Section 8 apartments in Shelby 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 Tennessee counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 926,440 · FIPS 47157.