Section 8
Las Vegas Section 8 Payment Standards 2026: How Much Your Voucher Covers
If you have a Housing Choice Voucher in Las Vegas, the number that decides which apartments you can actually rent is the payment standard. It is the most the voucher will count toward rent for your voucher size. Here are the 2026 figures for Las Vegas, how your share gets calculated, and how to check a listing before you spend a dollar applying.
SNRHA 2026 payment standards
The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) runs the voucher program for Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and the rest of Clark County. Its 2026 schedule took effect January 1, 2026 for new admissions, moves, and annual recertifications.
| Voucher size | HUD Fair Market Rent 2026 | SNRHA payment standard 2026 | % of FMR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (efficiency) | $1,333 | $1,381 | 104% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,478 | $1,550 | 105% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,735 | $1,838 | 106% |
| 3 bedroom | $2,413 | $2,575 | 107% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,764 | $2,983 | 108% |
| 5 bedroom | $3,179 | $3,430 | 108% |
Source: SNRHA 2026 Payment Standard Schedule memo, October 27, 2025. HUD lowered some 2026 Fair Market Rents, and SNRHA kept each bedroom size at its set percentage of FMR so families would not see their rent share jump.
How your share of the rent is calculated
Three numbers matter:
- Gross rent. The landlord’s rent plus SNRHA’s utility allowance for any utilities you pay yourself. At our properties the owner pays water, sewer, lawn care, and pest control, and you pay electric, so the allowance covers electric.
- Payment standard. The figure from the table above for your voucher size.
- Your total tenant payment. Generally 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Adjusted income is your gross income minus allowed deductions (for example for dependents, elderly or disabled household members, and certain medical and childcare costs).
The voucher pays the lower of the gross rent or the payment standard, minus your tenant payment. If the gross rent is higher than the payment standard, you pay the difference on top of your 30%.
Example: You hold a 1 bedroom voucher with $1,500 a month in adjusted income. Your base share is about $450. You pick a 1 bedroom at $1,000 with a $90 electric allowance, so the gross rent is $1,090. That is under the $1,550 standard, so you pay about $450 total (part as rent, part as your own electric bill) and the voucher pays the landlord the rest.
The 40% rule
When you first lease a unit, your share cannot be more than 40% of your adjusted monthly income. This is a federal rule, and it is why an expensive unit can get rejected even when you are willing to pay extra. If a listing’s gross rent sits well above the payment standard for your voucher size, expect SNRHA to turn it down.
Rent reasonableness is a separate check. SNRHA also compares the rent to similar unassisted units nearby, so a rent can be under the payment standard and still need to be justified.
Which voucher size do you get?
SNRHA assigns your voucher size (bedroom count) based on household size and its subsidy standards. You can rent a smaller unit than your voucher size, and the payment standard for the smaller of the two applies. You can sometimes rent a larger one, but the payment standard stays at your voucher size, so you would cover the gap.
Check your voucher paperwork for your assigned size, or ask your housing specialist.
How to check a listing in five minutes
- Find your voucher size on your paperwork.
- Ask the landlord for the exact monthly rent and which utilities you pay.
- Add a rough utility estimate for anything you pay. Your housing specialist can give you SNRHA’s allowance.
- Compare the total to the payment standard above.
- Ask the landlord, before paying a fee, whether they accept vouchers, and know when a Nevada landlord can and can’t refuse Section 8.
Where our rents land
Both Vegas Value Living properties accept Housing Choice Vouchers and HUD-VASH, with no application fee for voucher holders.
| Unit | Our rent | 2026 payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| Studio, Bonanza Park (89106) | $900 to $1,000 | $1,381 |
| 1 bedroom, Bonanza Park or Maryland Park | $950 to $1,150 | $1,550 |
| 2 bedroom, Maryland Park (89101) | $1,200 to $1,500 | $1,838 |
Every floor plan sits under the standard for its size. See the full details on our Section 8 apartments in Las Vegas page, or walk through the Section 8 approval process from RTA to keys.
Payment standards change
SNRHA can update its schedule each year when HUD publishes new Fair Market Rents. New standards usually apply at your next move or annual recertification. Always confirm the current figure with SNRHA at snvrha.org or (702) 477-3100 before you sign a lease.
Want to know whether you qualify in the first place? See the Section 8 income limits for Las Vegas.