Section 8 in Knoxville, TN: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Knoxville, TN 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) | $1,171 | $1,054 to $1,288 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,178 | $1,060 to $1,296 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,475 | $1,328 to $1,623 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,844 | $1,660 to $2,028 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,122 | $1,910 to $2,334 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Knoxville is $1,475. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,328 to $1,623, 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 Knoxville
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Knoxville, TN metro rose from $1,471 in FY2026 to $1,475 in FY2027, a change of +$4 a month (+0.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,177 | $1,171 | -$6 (-0.5%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,184 | $1,178 | -$6 (-0.5%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,471 | $1,475 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,864 | $1,844 | -$20 (-1.1%) |
| 4-bedroom | $2,172 | $2,122 | -$50 (-2.3%) |
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 Knoxville? 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 Knoxville
12 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Knoxville'S Community Development Corp.
Knoxville , TN · TN003 · 4,251 HCV units
8654031100 - Status unknown
East Tennessee Human Resource Agency
Knoxville , TN · TN113 · 847 HCV units
8656912551 - Status unknown
Maryville Housing Authority
Maryville , TN · TN065 · 356 HCV units
8659834958 - Status unknown
Lafollette Housing Authority
La Follette , TN · TN012 · 333 HCV units
4235622261 - Status unknown
Oak Ridge Housing Authority
Oak Ridge , TN · TN088 · 319 HCV units
8654821006 - Status unknown
Clinton Housing Authority
Clinton , TN · TN022
8654579692 - Status unknown
Loudon Housing Authority
Loudon , TN · TN064
8654582061 - Status unknown
Harriman Housing Authority
Harriman , TN · TN055
8658829636 - Status unknown
Lenoir City Housing Authority
Lenoir City , TN · TN061
8659868707 - Status unknown
Jellico Housing Authority
Jellico , TN · TN034
4237848809 - Status unknown
Rockwood Housing Authority
Rockwood , TN · TN018
8653549841 - Status unknown
Oliver Springs Housing Authority
Oliver Springs , TN · TN078
8654351711
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Knoxville, TN?
Yes. Tennessee law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Knoxville, 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville?
- In the Knoxville, TN metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,475 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,328 to $1,623. 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 Knoxville?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Knoxville, TN metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,171, 1-bedroom $1,178, 2-bedroom $1,475, 3-bedroom $1,844, 4-bedroom $2,122. 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 Knoxville for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Knoxville, TN metro went from $1,471 in FY2026 to $1,475 in FY2027, an increase of $4 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 Knoxville?
- Section 8 in Knoxville is administered by Knoxville'S Community Development Corp., East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Maryville 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 Knoxville
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 TN
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.