Section 8 in Brownsville, TX: FMR & Landlord Guide
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area (CBSA 15180). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $773 | $696 – $850 |
| 1-bedroom | $866 | $779 – $953 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,047 | $942 – $1,152 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,414 | $1,273 – $1,555 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,479 | $1,331 – $1,627 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Brownsville, TX covers up to $1,047 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $942–$1,152.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Brownsville, TX
6 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville
Brownsville, TX · TX007 · 2,904 HCV units
- Status unknown
Cameron County Housing Authority
Brownsville, TX · TX509 · 1,031 HCV units
- Status unknown
Harlingen Housing Authority
Harlingen, TX · TX065 · 830 HCV units
- Status unknown
San Benito Housing Authority
San Benito, TX · TX025 · 452 HCV units
- Status unknown
Port Isabel Housing Authority
Port Isabel, TX · TX173 · 120 HCV units
- Status unknown
Los Fresnos Housing Authority
Los Fresnos, TX · TX206 · 106 HCV units
Source-of-income law in TX
TX state law explicitly preempts local ordinances requiring voucher acceptance. Landlords may legally decline Section 8 tenants.
Tex. Local Gov. Code §250.007 · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Brownsville, TX property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.