Section 8 in Portland, ME: FMR & Landlord Guide
Portland-South Portland, ME metro area (CBSA 38860). 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) | $1,281 | $1,153 – $1,409 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,412 | $1,271 – $1,553 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,716 | $1,544 – $1,888 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,298 | $2,068 – $2,528 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,561 | $2,305 – $2,817 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Portland, ME covers up to $1,716 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,544–$1,888.
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 Portland, ME
7 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Portland Housing Authority
Portland, ME · ME003 · 2,679 HCV units
- Status unknown
The Housing Authority of the City of Westbroo
Westbrook, ME · ME015 · 1,026 HCV units
- Status unknown
South Portland Housing Authority
South Portland, ME · ME020 · 740 HCV units
- Status unknown
Sanford Housing Authority
Sanford, ME · ME011 · 719 HCV units
- Status unknown
Brunswick Housing Authority
Brunswick, ME · ME006 · 678 HCV units
- Status unknown
Bath Housing Authority
Bath, ME · ME019 · 264 HCV units
- Status unknown
Biddeford Housing Authority
Biddeford, ME · ME028 · 214 HCV units
Source-of-income law in ME
ME state law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to Section 8 voucher holders on the basis of their source of income.
Maine Human Rights Act · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Portland, ME 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.