Section 8 in Des Moines, IA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area (CBSA 19780). 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) | $1,063 | $957 – $1,169 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,109 | $998 – $1,220 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,318 | $1,186 – $1,450 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,794 | $1,615 – $1,973 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,841 | $1,657 – $2,025 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Des Moines, IA covers up to $1,318 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,186–$1,450.
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 Des Moines, IA
4 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency
Des Moines, IA · IA020 · 3,702 HCV units
- Status unknown
Central Iowa Regional Housing Authority
Grimes, IA · IA131 · 1,037 HCV units
- Status unknown
Warren County Housing Authority
Indianola, IA · IA120 · 175 HCV units
- Status unknown
Low Rent Housing Agency Of Winterset
Winterset, IA · IA017 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in IA
Source-of-income protection status for IA is not yet in our database. Check with a local attorney or the state civil-rights office before refusing a voucher applicant.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Des Moines, IA 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.