Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs across Virginia are operated locally by county and municipal Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) under statutory regulations and funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

⚖️

Source of Income Protections & Tenant Rights

Voucher holders in Virginia are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. In addition, federally funded housing developments cannot deny eligible applicants because they hold a Section 8 voucher.

📊

Fair Market Rents & Voucher Payment Standards

HUD calculates annual Fair Market Rents (FMRs) and Area Median Income (AMI) limits for every county and metropolitan area in Virginia. Local PHAs set voucher payment standards—typically between 90% and 110% of HUD FMRs—to establish maximum subsidy amounts.

Without extra HUD approval, a payment standard is usually any amount from 90% up to 110% of the published Fair Market Rent for that unit size (24 CFR 982.503). Enter your PHA’s written dollar amount in the calculator; otherwise we use 100% of FMR as a stand-in.

How HAP is calculated · Pay by bedroom size

Prominent Public Housing Authorities in Virginia

Contact your local PHA for waiting lists and applications. Links go to official agency sites or HUD’s national PHA directory.

Virginia

Public Housing Authorities Serving Virginia

Local county and municipal housing authorities manage waiting lists, conduct housing inspections, and disburse monthly HAP rental subsidies across Virginia. Use HUD’s PHA contact directory to find the agency for your city or county.

Website / Apply ↗

View full PHA directory → · National PHA directory (HUD) ↗

Frequently Asked Questions About Section 8 in Virginia

How does Section 8 work in Virginia?

In Virginia, eligible low-income families receive a housing voucher from their local housing authority. The family pays roughly 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the voucher covers the remaining balance up to the local payment standard.

What are the income limits for Section 8 in Virginia?

Income limits are determined annually by HUD for each county in Virginia. Most applicants must have an annual household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with 75% of new vouchers federally mandated for families below 30% AMI.

How do I apply for Section 8 in Virginia?

Applications must be submitted directly to a local housing authority serving your city or county in Virginia when their waiting list opens. Use our Section 8 calculator to check income limits and estimated rent share for your ZIP code before applying.

Complete Directory of Cities & Places in Virginia (672)

Filter cities

672 cities & places indexed

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

Tacoma CDP
Tangier
Tappahannock
Tasley CDP
Tazewell
Temperanceville CDP
Templeton CDP
The Plains
The University of Virginia's College at Wise CDP
Thynedale CDP
Timberlake CDP
Timberville
Toms Brook
Triangle CDP
Troutdale
Troutville
Tuckahoe CDP
Twin Lakes CDP
Tysons CDP

Major Cities & Metropolitan Areas in Virginia

Abingdon

Accomac

Alberta

Alexandria

Altavista

Amherst

Appalachia

Appomattox

How Section 8 Operates in Virginia