FMR Lookup › Kentucky › Lexington-Fayette
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Lexington-Fayette, KY (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA, 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 | $883 | $795 – $971 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,079 | $971 – $1,187 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,272 | $1,145 – $1,399 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,743 | $1,569 – $1,917 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,940 | $1,746 – $2,134 |
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 $1,272 — 47% above the Kentucky median of $866 across all 101 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Lexington-Fayette, KY FMR area is a metro area covering: Bourbon County, Clark County, Fayette County, Jessamine County, Scott County, Woodford 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 Lexington-Fayette: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Kentucky markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $1,047 | $1,272 | $1,625 |
| Clarksville | $1,094 | $1,346 | $1,871 |
| Cincinnati | $1,051 | $1,353 | $1,785 |
| Livingston County | $960 | $1,158 | $1,388 |
| Grant County | $899 | $1,155 | $1,385 |
| Bowling Green | $985 | $1,153 | $1,384 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Lexington-Fayette.