Section 8 in Seattle, WA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area (CBSA 42660). 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) | $1,428 | $1,285 – $1,571 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,605 | $1,445 – $1,766 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,971 | $1,774 – $2,168 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,733 | $2,460 – $3,006 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,102 | $2,792 – $3,412 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Seattle, WA covers up to $1,971 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,774–$2,168.
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 Seattle, WA
7 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Wait-list CLOSED
Seattle Housing Authority
Seattle, WA · WA001 · 12,611 HCV units
SHA opens HCV wait list periodically by lottery. Check SHA site for the next open window — it usually publishes 2–4 weeks in advance.
- Status unknown
HA OF KING COUNTY
Tukwila, WA · WA002 · 11,386 HCV units
- Status unknown
HA City of Tacoma
Tacoma, WA · WA005 · 5,379 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of Snohomish County
Everett, WA · WA039 · 4,252 HCV units
- Status unknown
Housing Authority of the City of Everett
Everett, WA · WA006 · 3,703 HCV units
- Status unknown
HA Of Pierce County
Puyallup, WA · WA054 · 3,148 HCV units
- Status unknown
HA City of Renton
Renton, WA · WA011 · 651 HCV units
Source-of-income law in WA
WA state law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to Section 8 voucher holders on the basis of their source of income.
RCW 59.18.255 · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Seattle, WA 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.