Section 8 in Travis County, TX
9,664 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Travis County, 74% utilized. 3 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Travis 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) | $1,474 | $1,327 to $1,621 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,562 | $1,406 to $1,718 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,852 | $1,667 to $2,037 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,347 | $2,112 to $2,582 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,760 | $2,484 to $3,036 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Travis County covers up to $1,852 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,667 to $2,037.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Travis County?
Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Travis County can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
Texas has NO statewide SOI protection AND state law preempts city ordinances. Austin passed protection in 2014, Texas legislature struck it down in 2015. Landlords in Texas can legally refuse vouchers.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Travis County in the Austin metro
Travis County is one of the counties inside the Austin, TX core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Austin metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Travis 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.
Austin Housing Authority
Austin · PHA code TX001
7,047 Section 8 unitsTexas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
Austin · PHA code TX901
1,877 Section 8 unitsHousing Authority of Travis County
Austin · PHA code TX480
740 Section 8 units
Find Section 8 apartments in Travis 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 Texas counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 1,289,054 · FIPS 48453.