Find the right application and voucher help
Use the researched agency guides for program-specific notices, official application routes, existing-case help and adopted rent schedules. A HUD rent benchmark or a rental listing does not establish an application opening or agency approval.
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) | $976 | $878 to $1,074 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,058 | $952 to $1,164 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,276 | $1,148 to $1,404 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,629 | $1,466 to $1,792 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,874 | $1,687 to $2,061 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Louisville/Jefferson County is $1,276. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,148 to $1,404, 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro rose from $1,272 in FY2026 to $1,276 in FY2027, a change of +$4 a month (+0.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $966 | $976 | +$10 (+1.0%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,047 | $1,058 | +$11 (+1.1%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,272 | $1,276 | +$4 (+0.3%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,625 | $1,629 | +$4 (+0.2%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,891 | $1,874 | -$17 (-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 Louisville/Jefferson County? 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
7 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
Louisville Metro Housing Authority
Louisville , KY · KY001 · 12,582 HCV units
Tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher: closed at last checkProperty programs have their own lists. Find the relevant agency guide.
Source checked · Official notice
5025693400- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of New Albany
New Albany , IN · IN012 · 860 HCV units
8122062033 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville , IN · IN023 · 437 HCV units
8122833553 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Bardstown
Bardstown , KY · KY071 · 173 HCV units
5023483525 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Charlestown
Charlestown , IN · IN025 · 73 HCV units
8122566311 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Eminence
Eminence , KY · KY078
5028454769 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Shelbyville
Shelbyville , KY · KY089
5026334531
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY?
Yes. Kentucky law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY can legally decline Section 8 applicants. Listing on a voucher-friendly marketplace is the fastest way to find the landlords who do accept.
KRS 65.874 (HB 18, 2024)
Enacted over the governor's veto; nullified Louisville and Lexington ordinances. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
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 Louisville/Jefferson County 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
- In the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,276 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,148 to $1,404. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro, by bedroom size: studio $976, 1-bedroom $1,058, 2-bedroom $1,276, 3-bedroom $1,629, 4-bedroom $1,874. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro went from $1,272 in FY2026 to $1,276 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
- Section 8 in Louisville/Jefferson County is administered by Louisville Metro Housing Authority, Housing Authority of the City of New Albany, Housing Authority of the City of Jeffersonville 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
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 KY
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.