Section 8 in Richmond, VA, VA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Richmond, VA 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.
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.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,089 | $980 to $1,198 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,139 | $1,025 to $1,253 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,250 | $1,125 to $1,375 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,536 | $1,382 to $1,690 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,929 | $1,736 to $2,122 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Richmond covers up to $1,250 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,125 to $1,375.
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 Richmond
4 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Virginia Housing Development Authority
Richmond , VA · VA901 · 10,201 HCV units
8045844764 - Status unknown
Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Richmond , VA · VA007 · 4,303 HCV units
8047804200 - Status unknown
Petersburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Petersburg , VA · VA020 · 1,054 HCV units
8047332200 - Status unknown
Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority
Hopewell , VA · VA005 · 611 HCV units
8044585160
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Richmond, VA?
No. Virginia law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Richmond, VA. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
Virginia Fair Housing Law (HB 6, 2020)
Virginia's HB 6 (2020) added source of income to the list of protected classes under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. Applies statewide to all landlords regardless of unit count. Enforcement via Virginia DPOR / Virginia Fair Housing Office.
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 Richmond 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 Richmond?
- In the Richmond, VA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,250 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,125 to $1,375 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
- What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Richmond?
- HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Richmond, VA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,089, 1-bedroom $1,139, 2-bedroom $1,250, 3-bedroom $1,536, 4-bedroom $1,929. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
- How do I apply for Section 8 in Richmond?
- Section 8 in Richmond is administered by Virginia Housing Development Authority, Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, Petersburg Redevelopment & 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 Richmond
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.
Other Section 8 markets in VA
Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.