FMR Lookup › Washington › Bellingham
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Bellingham, WA (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Bellingham, WA 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 | $1,463 | $1,317 – $1,609 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,493 | $1,344 – $1,642 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,794 | $1,615 – $1,973 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,495 | $2,246 – $2,745 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,010 | $2,709 – $3,311 |
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 $1,794 — 32% above the Washington median of $1,354 across all 35 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Bellingham, WA FMR area is a metro area covering: Whatcom 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 Bellingham: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Washington markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan County | $1,343 | $1,762 | $2,332 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $1,311 | $1,720 | $2,392 |
| Island County | $1,356 | $1,671 | $2,324 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $1,677 | $1,922 | $2,619 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $1,682 | $1,960 | $2,613 |
| Tacoma | $1,605 | $1,971 | $2,733 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Bellingham.