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Section 8 in Kingsport, TN: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA 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.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2027)
$1,091
HUD
Active vouchers
2,847
78% utilized
Housing authorities
7
serving this metro
Voucher protection
State preempts
Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

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.

BedroomsFMRIllustration: 90% to 110% of FMR
Efficiency (studio)$760$684 to $836
1-bedroom$845$761 to $930
2-bedroom$1,091$982 to $1,200
3-bedroom$1,375$1,238 to $1,513
4-bedroom$1,465$1,319 to $1,612

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Kingsport is $1,091. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $982 to $1,200, 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 Kingsport

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro rose from $1,044 in FY2026 to $1,091 in FY2027, a change of +$47 a month (+4.5%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

BedroomsFY2026FY2027Change
Efficiency (studio)$720$760+$40 (+5.6%)
1-bedroom$818$845+$27 (+3.3%)
2-bedroom$1,044$1,091+$47 (+4.5%)
3-bedroom$1,338$1,375+$37 (+2.8%)
4-bedroom$1,464$1,465+$1 (+0.1%)

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 Kingsport? 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

Active vouchers
2,847
Occupied
2,229
Utilization
78%

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 Kingsport

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

  • Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority

    Kingsport , TN · TN006 · 1,811 HCV units

    Status unknown
    4232450135
  • Bristol Redevelopment & Housing Authority

    Bristol , VA · VA002 · 346 HCV units

    Status unknown
    2766422001
  • Scott County Redev. & Housing Authority

    Duffield , VA · VA031 · 201 HCV units

    Status unknown
    2764312022
  • Bristol Housing

    Bristol , TN · TN066 · 200 HCV units

    Status unknown
    4232748150
  • People Inc. of Southwest Virginia

    Abingdon , VA · VA042 · 168 HCV units

    Status unknown
    2766239000
  • Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority

    Abingdon , VA · VA032 · 121 HCV units

    Status unknown
    2766285661
  • Rogersville Housing Authority

    Rogersville , TN · TN043

    Status unknown
    4232728540

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Kingsport, TN?

Yes. Tennessee law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Kingsport, TN can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.

Tennessee has no source-of-income protection

Tennessee has NO statewide source-of-income protection. The state legislature has been aggressive about preempting local anti-discrimination measures. Landlords can legally decline voucher applicants. Voucher tenants remain a solid financial option — guaranteed monthly rent, often above local market — but the choice is voluntary.

View statute →

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Counties in the Kingsport 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 Kingsport?
In the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,091 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $982 to $1,200. 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 Kingsport?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro, by bedroom size: studio $760, 1-bedroom $845, 2-bedroom $1,091, 3-bedroom $1,375, 4-bedroom $1,465. 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 Kingsport for FY2027?
The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro went from $1,044 in FY2026 to $1,091 in FY2027, an increase of $47 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 Kingsport?
Section 8 in Kingsport is administered by Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Bristol Redevelopment & Housing Authority, Scott County Redev. & Housing Authority 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 Kingsport

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.

Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.