VoucherMatch

Section 8 in McAllen, TX, TX: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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)
$1,060
HUD
Active vouchers
6,836
89% utilized
Housing authorities
14
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)$842$758 to $926
1-bedroom$847$762 to $932
2-bedroom$1,060$954 to $1,166
3-bedroom$1,376$1,238 to $1,514
4-bedroom$1,522$1,370 to $1,674

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in McAllen covers up to $1,060 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $954 to $1,166.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
6,836
Occupied
6,077
Utilization
89%

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 McAllen

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

  • Mcallen Housing Authority

    Mcallen , TX · TX028 · 1,384 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9566863951

  • Edinburg Housing Authority

    Edinburg , TX · TX062 · 1,082 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9563833839

  • Pharr Housing Authority

    Pharr , TX · TX073 · 944 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9567871822

  • Mission Housing Authority

    Mission , TX · TX046 · 814 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9565859747

  • Hidalgo County Housing Authority

    Weslaco , TX · TX497 · 726 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9569695866

  • Weslaco Housing Authority

    Weslaco , TX · TX051 · 489 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9569691538

  • Mercedes Housing Authority

    Mercedes , TX · TX029 · 424 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9565653139

  • Donna Housing Authority

    Donna , TX · TX177 · 300 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9564644473

  • San Juan Housing Authority

    San Juan , TX · TX447 · 155 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9567813130

  • Elsa Housing Authority

    Elsa , TX · TX224 · 136 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9562621231

  • La Joya Housing Authority

    La Joya , TX · TX448 · 132 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9565817069

  • Alamo Housing Authority

    Alamo , TX · TX064 · 123 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9567872352

  • Hidalgo Housing Authority

    Hidalgo , TX · TX445 · 70 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9568438561

  • Edcouch Housing Authority

    Edcouch , TX · TX202 · 57 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9562622471

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in McAllen, TX?

Yes. Texas law blocks local governments from requiring voucher acceptance, so landlords in McAllen, 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 McAllen 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 McAllen?
In the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,060 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $954 to $1,166 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in McAllen?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX metro, by bedroom size: studio $842, 1-bedroom $847, 2-bedroom $1,060, 3-bedroom $1,376, 4-bedroom $1,522. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in McAllen?
Section 8 in McAllen is administered by Mcallen Housing Authority, Edinburg Housing Authority, Pharr 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 McAllen

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.

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Other Section 8 markets in TX

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