Section 8 in Waco, TX: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities
Waco, TX 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) | $903 | $813 to $993 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,029 | $926 to $1,132 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,297 | $1,167 to $1,427 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,693 | $1,524 to $1,862 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,705 | $1,535 to $1,876 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Waco is $1,297. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,167 to $1,427, 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 Waco
HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Waco, TX metro rose from $1,240 in FY2026 to $1,297 in FY2027, a change of +$57 a month (+4.6%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $850 | $903 | +$53 (+6.2%) |
| 1-bedroom | $996 | $1,029 | +$33 (+3.3%) |
| 2-bedroom | $1,240 | $1,297 | +$57 (+4.6%) |
| 3-bedroom | $1,599 | $1,693 | +$94 (+5.9%) |
| 4-bedroom | $1,644 | $1,705 | +$61 (+3.7%) |
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 Waco? 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 Waco
9 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Waco
Waco , TX · TX010 · 3,073 HCV units
2547520324 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Clifton
Clifton , TX · TX339
2546758294 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Marlin
Marlin , TX · TX246
2548030072 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Lott
Lott , TX · TX252
2545842841 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Rosebud
Rosebud , TX · TX255
2545837959 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Mart
Mart , TX · TX333
2547520324 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Mcgregor
Mcgregor , TX · TX102
2548402276 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of Meridian
Meridian , TX · TX276
2544352601 - Status unknown
Housing Authority of City of Moody
Moody , TX · TX116
2548532577
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Waco, TX?
Texas limits local voucher-protection ordinances, but that does not let every property refuse vouchers. TDHCA-funded or administered multifamily housing, including housing-tax-credit properties, cannot exclude applicants because they use Housing Choice Vouchers. Other program or contract requirements may also apply; ordinary screening and agency approval still matter.
Texas Government Code § 2306.269: voucher rules for TDHCA housing
Program-specific voucher requirements still apply despite local ordinance preemption.
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 Waco 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 Waco?
- In the Waco, TX metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,297 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,167 to $1,427. 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 Waco?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Waco, TX metro, by bedroom size: studio $903, 1-bedroom $1,029, 2-bedroom $1,297, 3-bedroom $1,693, 4-bedroom $1,705. 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 Waco for FY2027?
- The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Waco, TX metro went from $1,240 in FY2026 to $1,297 in FY2027, an increase of $57 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 Waco?
- Section 8 in Waco is administered by Housing Authority of the City of Waco, Housing Authority of Clifton, Housing Authority of Marlin 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 Waco
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 TX
Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.