PHA Directory / CHA
CHA Payment Standards 2026–27
Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) runs the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program for the City of Chicago. It sets its own payment standards — the most it will pay toward rent for each unit size — and federal rules normally require those to fall between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area (the metro-wide FMR, or ZIP-level Small Area FMRs where the authority uses them) unless HUD approves an exception. CHA is a HUD Moving to Work (MTW) agency, so it can use MTW flexibility to set payment standards outside that usual range. Below are HUD's FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026) figures for the 76 ZIP codes in its area, the benchmark CHA's schedule is built from.
CHA Utility Allowances 2024
Monthly allowances for utilities the tenant pays, effective November 1, 2024. Add the allowance for each utility you pay yourself; the total is added to the rent to get the gross rent compared with the payment standard. Source: Chicago Housing Authority HCV utility allowance schedule (PDF, effective November 1, 2024) (read October 17, 2026).
| Utility | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5 BR | 6 BR | 7 BR | 8 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached — Heating | |||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $49 | $58 | $67 | $76 | $84 | $93 | $105 | $117 | $131 |
| Heating – electric resistance | $44 | $53 | $62 | $71 | $80 | $89 | $100 | $112 | $125 |
| Heating – heat pump | $27 | $32 | $38 | $43 | $49 | $54 | $61 | $68 | $76 |
| Heating – oil | $136 | $175 | $215 | $255 | $294 | $334 | $374 | $419 | $469 |
| Single-family detached — Cooking | |||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $4 | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $13 |
| Cooking – electric | $6 | $8 | $10 | $12 | $14 | $16 | $18 | $21 | $23 |
| Single-family detached — Other electric | |||||||||
| Other electric / lighting | $45 | $57 | $70 | $82 | $95 | $107 | $120 | $134 | $150 |
| Single-family detached — Water heating | |||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $7 | $14 | $21 | $27 | $34 | $41 | $46 | $52 | $58 |
| Water heating – electric | $9 | $20 | $31 | $42 | $53 | $64 | $72 | $80 | $90 |
| Water heating – oil | $20 | $39 | $59 | $79 | $98 | $118 | $132 | $148 | $166 |
| Single-family detached — Water, sewer and trash | |||||||||
| Water, sewer and trash | $34 | $46 | $70 | $107 | $143 | $179 | $200 | $225 | $251 |
| Single-family detached — Appliances | |||||||||
| Range / microwave | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| Refrigerator | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| Single-family detached — Gas fixed charge | |||||||||
| Gas fixed charge – heating | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 |
| Gas fixed charge – non-heating | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Heating | |||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $44 | $52 | $60 | $68 | $76 | $84 | $94 | $105 | $117 |
| Heating – electric resistance | $39 | $47 | $56 | $64 | $72 | $80 | $89 | $100 | $112 |
| Heating – heat pump | $24 | $29 | $34 | $39 | $44 | $49 | $54 | $61 | $68 |
| Heating – oil | $122 | $157 | $192 | $228 | $263 | $299 | $335 | $375 | $420 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Cooking | |||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $4 | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $13 |
| Cooking – electric | $6 | $8 | $10 | $12 | $14 | $16 | $18 | $21 | $23 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Other electric | |||||||||
| Other electric / lighting | $32 | $44 | $57 | $69 | $81 | $93 | $104 | $116 | $130 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Water heating | |||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $7 | $14 | $21 | $27 | $34 | $41 | $46 | $52 | $58 |
| Water heating – electric | $9 | $20 | $31 | $42 | $53 | $64 | $72 | $80 | $90 |
| Water heating – oil | $20 | $39 | $59 | $79 | $98 | $118 | $132 | $148 | $166 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Water, sewer and trash | |||||||||
| Water, sewer and trash | $28 | $37 | $55 | $82 | $110 | $137 | $153 | $172 | $192 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Appliances | |||||||||
| Range / microwave | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| Refrigerator | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| Low rise, duplex, row house — Gas fixed charge | |||||||||
| Gas fixed charge – heating | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 |
| Gas fixed charge – non-heating | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 |
| High rise — Heating | |||||||||
| Heating – natural gas | $25 | $29 | $34 | $39 | $43 | $48 | $53 | $60 | $67 |
| Heating – electric resistance | $22 | $27 | $32 | $36 | $41 | $46 | $51 | $57 | $64 |
| Heating – heat pump | $14 | $16 | $19 | $22 | $25 | $28 | $31 | $35 | $39 |
| Heating – oil | $69 | $89 | $110 | $130 | $150 | $170 | $191 | $214 | $239 |
| High rise — Cooking | |||||||||
| Cooking – natural gas | $4 | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $11 | $12 | $13 |
| Cooking – electric | $6 | $8 | $10 | $12 | $14 | $16 | $18 | $21 | $23 |
| High rise — Other electric | |||||||||
| Other electric / lighting | $33 | $42 | $51 | $60 | $69 | $78 | $87 | $97 | $109 |
| High rise — Water heating | |||||||||
| Water heating – natural gas | $7 | $14 | $21 | $27 | $34 | $41 | $46 | $52 | $58 |
| Water heating – electric | $9 | $20 | $31 | $42 | $53 | $64 | $72 | $80 | $90 |
| Water heating – oil | $20 | $39 | $59 | $79 | $98 | $118 | $132 | $148 | $166 |
| High rise — Water, sewer and trash | |||||||||
| Water and sewer | $18 | $27 | $45 | $72 | $100 | $127 | $142 | $159 | $178 |
| High rise — Appliances | |||||||||
| Range / microwave | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| Refrigerator | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 | $7 |
| High rise — Gas fixed charge | |||||||||
| Gas fixed charge – heating | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 | $33 |
| Gas fixed charge – non-heating | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 | $18 |
- Effective date as published; CHA had not posted a newer schedule when read on 2026-10-17.
- CHA: Separate schedules are published for single-family detached homes; low-rise, duplex and row houses; and high-rise buildings.
- CHA: Only one gas fixed charge applies to a unit, either the heating or the non-heating charge.
- CHA: The single-family and low-rise schedules combine water, sewer and trash in one line; the high-rise schedule covers water and sewer only.
- CHA: All amounts are monthly dollar allowances.
Contact CHA
Phone: (312) 786-3000
Email: info@thecha.org
Address: 60 E Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60605
HUD rents by ZIP code
2-bedroom HUD figure for each ZIP. Open a ZIP for every unit size.
$3,02060602 Chicago
$3,02060603 Chicago
$2,96060604 Chicago
$3,02060605 Chicago
$3,02060606 Chicago
$3,02060607 Chicago
$3,02060608 Chicago
$1,73060609 Chicago
$1,50060610 Chicago
$3,02060611 Chicago
$3,02060612 Chicago
$2,13060613 Chicago
$2,91060614 Chicago
$3,02060615 Chicago
$2,44060616 Chicago
$2,27060617 Chicago
$1,52060618 Chicago
$2,33060619 Chicago
$1,64060620 Chicago
$1,64060621 Chicago
$1,53060622 Chicago
$2,81060623 Chicago
$1,53060624 Chicago
$1,72060625 Chicago
$2,39060626 Chicago
$2,28060628 Chicago
$1,70060629 Chicago
$1,57060630 Chicago
$2,09060631 Chicago
$2,19060632 Chicago
$1,50060633 Chicago
$1,62060634 Chicago
$1,93060636 Chicago
$1,62060637 Chicago
$1,74060638 Chicago
$1,83060639 Chicago
$1,76060640 Chicago
$2,60060641 Chicago
$1,97060642 Chicago
$3,02060643 Chicago
$1,88060644 Chicago
$1,64060645 Chicago
$2,15060646 Chicago
$1,92060647 Chicago
$2,57060649 Chicago
$1,71060651 Chicago
$1,72060652 Chicago
$1,88060653 Chicago
$1,51060654 Chicago
$3,02060655 Chicago
$2,01060656 Chicago
$1,96060657 Chicago
$3,02060659 Chicago
$2,08060660 Chicago
$2,50060661 Chicago
$3,02060666 Chicago
$1,98060669 Chicago
$1,98060670 Chicago
$1,98060673 Chicago
$1,98060674 Chicago
$1,98060675 Chicago
$1,98060678 Chicago
$1,98060682 Chicago
$1,98060685 Chicago
$1,98060686 Chicago
$1,98060687 Chicago
$1,98060688 Chicago
$1,98060689 Chicago
$1,98060690 Chicago
$1,98060693 Chicago
$1,98060694 Chicago
$1,98060695 Chicago
$1,98060697 Chicago
$1,98060699 Chicago
$1,98060701 Chicago
$1,980
Rent limits for Chicago
Other housing authorities in Illinois: Cook County Housing Authority, Housing Authority of Joliet, Housing Authority of Elgin
Not sure which authority covers an address? Use the PHA directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CHA payment standard?
A payment standard is the maximum monthly amount CHA uses to calculate a voucher's housing assistance for a given unit size. CHA chooses its payment standards, and HUD rules (24 CFR 982.503) normally require them to fall between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent for the area (the metro-wide FMR, or ZIP-level Small Area FMRs where the authority uses them) — the "basic range". An authority can go above 110% only with an exception payment standard approved by HUD or allowed by HUD notice. CHA is a HUD Moving to Work (MTW) agency, so it can use MTW flexibility to set payment standards outside that usual range.
What are CHA's utility allowances for 2024?
CHA's current utility allowances took effect on November 1, 2024 (source: Chicago Housing Authority HCV utility allowance schedule (PDF, effective November 1, 2024)). For a 2-bedroom, the allowance for a single utility ranges from $6 to $215 a month. Add the allowance for each utility you pay yourself. The total is added to the contract rent, and that gross rent is what is compared with the payment standard, so a unit with tenant-paid utilities needs a lower rent to fit.
Why might CHA's published amounts differ from the HUD figures on this page?
The figures here are HUD's FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026) Small Area FMRs. CHA sets its own amounts as a percentage of these (anywhere in the 90–110% basic range), and it adopts new amounts on its own schedule. As a Moving to Work agency, CHA may also use local payment standards that differ from the basic range. Always use CHA's own published schedule for your actual voucher amount.
Where can I find CHA's official payment standard schedule?
On CHA's website (https://www.thecha.org) or from your caseworker. Voucher holders also receive the amount for their unit size in their briefing packet.
Does a higher payment standard mean the voucher pays more of my rent?
It raises the ceiling. The housing assistance payment is the lower of the payment standard or the unit's gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities), minus your total tenant payment — usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income (24 CFR 982.505). If a unit's gross rent is above the payment standard, you pay the difference, and at initial lease-up your share can't exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income.
Why do the amounts change by ZIP code?
HUD publishes Small Area FMRs for each ZIP code in CHA's area rather than one figure for the whole metro area. Some authorities are required to use them and others may choose to; where an authority uses them, its payment standards vary by ZIP too, so higher-rent neighborhoods get higher ceilings. Check CHA's schedule for the ZIP of the unit, not where you live now.