Florida's Section 8 program varies dramatically depending on where you are in the state. Miami-Dade looks completely different from Jacksonville, and Tampa has its own unique market. Here's your 2026 guide to navigating Section 8 in the Sunshine State.

2026 Payment Standards by Region

South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach)

South Florida has the highest payment standards in the state — and some of the longest waitlists:

Miami-Dade County:

• Studio: $1,420
• 1 Bedroom: $1,680
• 2 Bedroom: $2,120
• 3 Bedroom: $2,780

Broward County (Fort Lauderdale):

• 2 Bedroom: $1,890
• 3 Bedroom: $2,450

Palm Beach County:

• 2 Bedroom: $1,820
• 3 Bedroom: $2,340

Palm Beach uses SAFMR, so ZIP codes vary significantly. West Palm vs. Boca Raton can be a $400/month difference.

Central Florida (Orlando, Tampa Bay)

Orlando (Orange County):

• 2 Bedroom: $1,620
• 3 Bedroom: $2,080

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater:

• 2 Bedroom: $1,680
• 3 Bedroom: $2,150

Tampa saw significant increases for 2026 — nearly 10% in many areas.

North Florida (Jacksonville, Gainesville)

Jacksonville (Duval County):

• 2 Bedroom: $1,380
• 3 Bedroom: $1,780

Gainesville:

• 2 Bedroom: $1,280
• 3 Bedroom: $1,640

North Florida remains more affordable, with payment standards that actually match typical market rents.

Major Florida Housing Authorities

Florida has over 100 PHAs. Here are the largest:

• Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency — Largest in Florida, administers thousands of vouchers
• Housing Authority of the City of Tampa
• Jacksonville Housing Authority
• Orange County Housing Authority (Orlando area)
• Broward County Housing Authority

Each has its own waitlist, preferences, and processing times. Contact them directly for current status.

Waitlist Situation in Florida

Florida's population boom has made housing assistance more competitive than ever:

• Miami-Dade: Waitlist typically closed, 40,000+ families waiting
• Tampa: Opens occasionally, long waits
• Jacksonville: More manageable, opens more frequently
• Smaller counties: Often have shorter waits and open lists

Pro tip: Don't just apply in your current city. Florida PHAs each maintain separate lists. Apply to multiple authorities to increase your chances.

Florida's Landlord Landscape

Unlike some states, Florida does NOT have statewide source-of-income protection. Landlords can legally refuse to accept vouchers (except in some local jurisdictions with their own ordinances).

That said, many Florida landlords are warming up to Section 8, especially as payment standards increase and guaranteed rent becomes more attractive in an uncertain economy.

For landlords considering Section 8:

• Payment standards are now competitive with market rents in many areas
• South Florida voucher holders are highly motivated tenants with limited options
• The HAP portion (60-70% of rent) comes directly from the government — no chasing payments

Finding Section 8 Housing in Florida

For voucher holders searching:

• Focus on areas where payment standards match or exceed typical market rents
• Consider suburbs and smaller cities within your PHA's jurisdiction
• Use our payment standard lookup to compare different ZIP codes
• Be prepared to move quickly — competition is fierce in South Florida

2026 Changes for Florida

FY2026 brought notable increases across Florida:

• Tampa area saw 9-11% increases
• Orlando increased 6-8%
• Miami-Dade increased 5-7%
• Jacksonville saw more modest 4-5% increases

These increases reflect Florida's continued rent growth and HUD's efforts to keep payment standards realistic.

→ Look up Florida payment standards by ZIP code