Section 8 in Dothan, AL: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Dothan, AL metro area. FY2027 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
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) | $763 | $687 to $839 |
| 1-bedroom | $768 | $691 to $845 |
| 2-bedroom | $966 | $869 to $1,063 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,291 | $1,162 to $1,420 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,415 | $1,274 to $1,557 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Dothan is $966. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $869 to $1,063, 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 Dothan
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Dothan, AL metro rose from $950 in FY2026 to $966 in FY2027, a change of +$16 a month (+1.7%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $757 | $763 | +$6 (+0.8%) |
| 1-bedroom | $762 | $768 | +$6 (+0.8%) |
| 2-bedroom | $950 | $966 | +$16 (+1.7%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,288 | $1,291 | +$3 (+0.2%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,428 | $1,415 | -$13 (-0.9%) |
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 Dothan? 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.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.
Housing authorities serving Dothan
9 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Dothan
Dothan , AL · AL007 · 1,663 HCV units
3347946713 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the Town of Slocomb
Slocomb , AL · AL143
3348863473 - Status unknown
Ha Samson
Samson , AL · AL128
3348987152 - Status unknown
Abbeville Housing Authority
Abbeville , AL · AL101
3345852165 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Headland, Al
Headland , AL · AL123
3346932525 - Status unknown
Ha Ashford
Ashford , AL · AL144
3348995463 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Columbia
Columbia , AL · AL100
3346932525 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Hartford
Hartford , AL · AL103
3345883303 - Status unknown
Cottonwood Housing Authority
Cottonwood , AL · AL104
3346912451
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Dothan, AL?
In most of the state, yes. Alabama has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Dothan, AL can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
No statewide source-of-income protection for housing vouchers. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Counties in the Dothan metro
County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Dothan?
- In the Dothan, AL metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $966 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $869 to $1,063. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in Dothan?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Dothan, AL metro, by bedroom size: studio $763, 1-bedroom $768, 2-bedroom $966, 3-bedroom $1,291, 4-bedroom $1,415. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
- Did Section 8 rent limits change in Dothan for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Dothan, AL metro went from $950 in FY2026 to $966 in FY2027, an increase of $16 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Dothan?
- Section 8 in Dothan is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Dothan, Housing Authority of the Town of Slocomb, Ha Samson and other local housing authorities. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.
Find Section 8 apartments in Dothan
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.
Other Section 8 markets in AL
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.