Section 8 in Lancaster, PA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Lancaster, PA metro area (CBSA 29540). 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) | $1,102 | $992 – $1,212 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,220 | $1,098 – $1,342 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,526 | $1,373 – $1,679 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,980 | $1,782 – $2,178 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,020 | $1,818 – $2,222 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Lancaster, PA covers up to $1,526 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,373–$1,679.
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 Lancaster, PA
2 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
The Housing Auth of the City of Lancaster
Lancaster, PA · PA036 · 1,120 HCV units
- Status unknown
Lancaster County Housing Authority
Lancaster, PA · PA090 · 1,010 HCV units
Source-of-income law in PA
A local ordinance in this jurisdiction protects voucher holders from source-of-income discrimination, even though PA has no statewide protection.
Phila. Fair Practices Ordinance · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Lancaster, PA 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.