FMR Lookup › Alabama › Birmingham-Hoover
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Birmingham-Hoover, AL (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,024 | $922 – $1,126 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,155 | $1,040 – $1,271 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,266 | $1,139 – $1,393 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,583 | $1,425 – $1,741 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,801 | $1,621 – $1,981 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $1,266 — 51% above the Alabama median of $837 across all 55 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Birmingham-Hoover, AL FMR area is a metro area covering: Bibb County, Blount County, Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Shelby County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Birmingham-Hoover: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Alabama markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $1,136 | $1,310 | $1,690 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $1,200 | $1,345 | $1,692 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $1,077 | $1,181 | $1,494 |
| Tuscaloosa | $972 | $1,169 | $1,490 |
| Greene County | $869 | $1,140 | $1,367 |
| Columbus | $939 | $1,088 | $1,445 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Birmingham-Hoover.