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Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-MD-VA (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD 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 | $1,953 | $1,758 – $2,148 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,015 | $1,814 – $2,217 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,246 | $2,021 – $2,471 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,835 | $2,552 – $3,119 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,332 | $2,999 – $3,665 |
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 $2,246 — right at the District of Columbia median of $2,246 across all 1 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-MD-VA FMR area is a metro area covering: District of Columbia, Charles County, Frederick County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Arlington County, Clarke County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Alexandria city, Fairfax city, Falls Church city, Fredericksburg city, Manassas city, Manassas Park city. 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.