Section 8 in Hattiesburg, MS: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Hattiesburg, MS 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) | $916 | $824 to $1,008 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,117 | $1,005 to $1,229 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,316 | $1,184 to $1,448 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,676 | $1,508 to $1,844 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,730 | $1,557 to $1,903 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Hattiesburg is $1,316. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,184 to $1,448, 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 Hattiesburg
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Hattiesburg, MS metro rose from $1,047 in FY2026 to $1,316 in FY2027, a change of +$269 a month (+25.7%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $766 | $916 | +$150 (+19.6%) |
| 1-bedroom | $888 | $1,117 | +$229 (+25.8%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,047 | $1,316 | +$269 (+25.7%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,348 | $1,676 | +$328 (+24.3%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,386 | $1,730 | +$344 (+24.8%) |
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 Hattiesburg? 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.
Housing authorities serving Hattiesburg
1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
the Housing Authority of the City of Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg , MS · MS001
6015831881
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Hattiesburg, MS?
In most of the state, yes. Mississippi has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Hattiesburg, MS can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
Mississippi has no source-of-income protection
Mississippi has NO statewide source-of-income protection, no relevant local ordinances in DeSoto County (Horn Lake / Southaven). Landlords can legally decline voucher applicants. This is one of the weakest SOI environments in the country. Voucher tenants remain a good economic option (guaranteed monthly rent that often exceeds local market) — the choice is voluntary either way.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Hattiesburg?
- In the Hattiesburg, MS metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,316 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,184 to $1,448. 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 Hattiesburg?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Hattiesburg, MS metro, by bedroom size: studio $916, 1-bedroom $1,117, 2-bedroom $1,316, 3-bedroom $1,676, 4-bedroom $1,730. 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 Hattiesburg for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Hattiesburg, MS metro went from $1,047 in FY2026 to $1,316 in FY2027, an increase of $269 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 Hattiesburg?
- Section 8 in Hattiesburg is administered by the Housing Authority of the City of Hattiesburg. 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 Hattiesburg
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 MS
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.