Section 8 in Adams County, WA
HUD rent limits, income limits and housing authorities for Adams County. 1 housing authority serves this county.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Adams 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) | $879 | $791 to $967 |
| 1-bedroom | $965 | $869 to $1,062 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,262 | $1,136 to $1,388 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,747 | $1,572 to $1,922 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,109 | $1,898 to $2,320 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Adams County is $1,262. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,136 to $1,388, 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 Adams County
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Adams County, WA rose from $1,133 in FY2026 to $1,262 in FY2027, a change of +$129 a month (+11.4%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $795 | $879 | +$84 (+10.6%) |
| 1-bedroom | $863 | $965 | +$102 (+11.8%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,133 | $1,262 | +$129 (+11.4%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,576 | $1,747 | +$171 (+10.9%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,901 | $2,109 | +$208 (+10.9%) |
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 Adams 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 Adams 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 Adams County that is $48,500 a year for a family of four, about $4,040 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $77,300.
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $20,400 | $33,950 | $54,350 |
| 2 people | $23,300 | $38,800 | $62,100 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $43,650 | $69,850 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $48,500 | $77,600 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $52,400 | $83,850 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $56,300 | $90,050 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $60,150 | $96,250 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $64,050 | $102,450 |
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 Adams County, WA, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Adams County?
No. Washington law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Adams County. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
RCW 59.18.255 (2018)
Landlords may not refuse an otherwise eligible tenant based on source of income, including vouchers, with narrow inspection-cost exceptions. 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.
Adams County in the Othello metro
Adams County is one of the counties inside the Othello, WA core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Othello metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Landlord and investor tools for Adams County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Adams County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Washington ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in WashingtonExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in WashingtonMarket 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 Adams 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.
Housing Authority City of Othello
Othello · PHA code WA026
55 units total
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Adams County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Adams County, WA is $33,950 for one person, $38,800 for two, $43,650 for three and $48,500 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 Adams County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Adams County is $20,400 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 Adams County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Adams County is $1,262 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $1,136 to $1,388. 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 Adams County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Adams County are administered by Housing Authority City of Othello. 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 Adams 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 Washington counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 20,557 · FIPS 53001.