Section 8 Rent in ZIP 20688
FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 20688 in Calvert County, Maryland: HUD rent benchmarks by bedroom size, an illustrative percentage range, the housing authorities that administer vouchers here, and whether a landlord can legally decline a voucher in Maryland.
What does the HUD rent benchmark measure in ZIP 20688?
HUD's Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents for standard-quality units occupied by recent movers. Small Area FMRs provide ZIP-level estimates. These are not arithmetic average asking rents or approved voucher payments. For FY2027, that benchmark is $2,250 for a one-bedroom and $2,840 for a two-bedroom in ZIP 20688. Actual asking rents and adopted agency payment standards can differ. The full HUD benchmark table is above.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in ZIP 20688
HUD's two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 20688 fell from $3,000 in FY2026 to $2,840 in FY2027, a change of -$160 a month (-5.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $2,480 | $2,240 | -$240 (-9.7%) |
| 1-bedroom | $2,500 | $2,250 | -$250 (-10.0%) |
| 2-bedroom | $3,000 | $2,840 | -$160 (-5.3%) |
| 3-bedroom | $3,920 | $3,930 | +$10 (+0.3%) |
| 4-bedroom | $4,610 | $4,450 | -$160 (-3.5%) |
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 ZIP 20688? Under standard HCV rules, a lower payment standard does not cut your subsidy right away. Moving to Work agencies may use different policies. The housing authority may keep your current payment standard for as long as you stay in the same unit. If it decides to lower it, the reduction cannot start sooner than two years after the decrease takes effect, and only after it sends you the required notice (24 CFR 982.505(c)(3)). Families who are new to the program, or who move to a different unit, get the schedule in effect at that time.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Illustration: 90% to 110% of the HUD benchmark (2 BR)
These percentages illustrate the basic payment-standard range, not a verified agency schedule. ZIP-based policies, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Ask your administering agency for the adopted standard and household affordability calculation; neither the HUD benchmark nor this illustration is a lease approval.
ZIP vs county FMR (2 BR)
ZIP 20688 at $2,840 is $950 higher than the Calvert County county-wide 2 BR FMR of $1,890. This is a comparison of HUD benchmarks. It does not establish the agency's adopted standard or the assistance available to a particular household.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in ZIP 20688?
No. Maryland law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in ZIP 20688. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
MD HOME Act (HB 231, effective October 2020)
Maryland HOME Act (HB 231, 2020) prohibits source-of-income discrimination statewide. Applies to all landlords regardless of unit count. Enforcement via the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Housing authorities serving Calvert County
Housing Authority of Calvert County
Prince Frederick · PHA code MD022
480 Section 8 units
These agencies are listed for the county. Confirm jurisdiction for the exact address and, if you already have a voucher, which agency will administer the proposed move.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in ZIP 20688?
- For ZIP 20688 in Calvert County, MD, the FY2027 two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent is $2,840 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of this HUD benchmark is roughly $2,555 to $3,125. This modeled range is not the agency's adopted schedule. The agency calculates assistance using its applicable standard, household income and unit details; gross rent includes the allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 HUD rent benchmarks for ZIP 20688?
- HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 20688, by bedroom size: studio $2,240, 1-bedroom $2,250, 2-bedroom $2,840, 3-bedroom $3,930, 4-bedroom $4,450. A ZIP benchmark helps compare locations but does not establish what a voucher pays. The administering agency's adopted schedule, program rules and household calculation determine assistance.
- Which housing authority covers ZIP 20688?
- Agencies listed for Calvert County include Housing Authority of Calvert County. This county directory does not establish jurisdiction for every address. Check the agency on your voucher or application and confirm who would administer assistance at the proposed unit.
Find Section 8 apartments in ZIP 20688
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.
Landlord and investor tools for Calvert County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Calvert County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Maryland ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MarylandExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MarylandMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
SAFMR data published by HUD for FY2027. ZIP 20688 maps to Calvert County, MD · FIPS 24009. Investors can run these numbers in the RentalCalcs voucher analyzer.