Section 8 in El Paso, TX, TX: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

El Paso, TX metro area. FY2026 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.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2026)
$1,191
HUD
Active vouchers
6,985
82% utilized
Housing authorities
4
serving this metro
Voucher protection
State preempts

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

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.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$821$739 to $903
1-bedroom$1,013$912 to $1,114
2-bedroom$1,191$1,072 to $1,310
3-bedroom$1,633$1,470 to $1,796
4-bedroom$1,998$1,798 to $2,198

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in El Paso covers up to $1,191 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,072 to $1,310.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
6,985
Occupied
5,745
Utilization
82%

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 El Paso

4 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

  • Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, Tx

    El Paso , TX · TX003 · 6,245 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9158493839
  • Anthony Housing Authority

    Anthony , TX · TX439 · 458 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9158865806
  • El Paso County Housing Authority

    Fabens , TX · TX432 · 282 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9157643559
  • El Paso County Housing Authority

    Fabens , TX · TX538

    Status unknown
    9157643559

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in El Paso, TX?

Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in El Paso, TX 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.

Counties in the El Paso 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 El Paso?
In the El Paso, TX metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,191 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,072 to $1,310 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in El Paso?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the El Paso, TX metro, by bedroom size: studio $821, 1-bedroom $1,013, 2-bedroom $1,191, 3-bedroom $1,633, 4-bedroom $1,998. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in El Paso?
Section 8 in El Paso is administered by Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, Tx, Anthony Housing Authority, El Paso County Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.

Find Section 8 apartments in El Paso

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.

Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.