PHA Directory / KCHA
KCHA Payment Standards 2026–27
King County Housing Authority runs the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program for King County outside Seattle. 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. KCHA 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 47 ZIP codes in its area, the benchmark KCHA's schedule is built from.
Contact KCHA
Phone: (206) 214-1300
Address: 600 Andover Park West, Tukwila, WA 98188
HUD rents by ZIP code
2-bedroom HUD figure for each ZIP. Open a ZIP for every unit size.
$2,60098002 Auburn
$2,04098003 Federal Way
$2,24098004 Bellevue
$3,82098005 Bellevue
$2,95098006 Bellevue
$3,56098007 Bellevue
$3,03098008 Bellevue
$3,27098010 Black Diamond
$2,59098011 Bothell
$2,75098014 Carnation
$2,65098019 Duvall
$3,48098022 Enumclaw
$2,13098023 Federal Way
$2,34098024 Fall City
$2,97098025 Hobart
$2,91098027 Issaquah
$2,95098028 Kenmore
$2,51098029 Issaquah
$3,31098031 Kent
$2,50098032 Kent
$2,39098033 Kirkland
$3,33098034 Kirkland
$2,94098038 Maple Valley
$2,90098039 Medina
$3,28098040 Mercer Island
$3,01098042 Kent
$2,64098045 North Bend
$2,66098047 Pacific
$2,17098051 Ravensdale
$2,70098052 Redmond
$3,15098053 Redmond
$3,29098065 Snoqualmie
$3,67098070 Vashon
$1,95098072 Woodinville
$2,87098092 Auburn
$2,37098108 Seattle
$2,22098146 Seattle
$2,22098148 Seattle
$2,25098155 Seattle
$2,57098166 Seattle
$2,24098168 Seattle
$2,29098178 Seattle
$2,42098188 Seattle
$2,06098198 Seattle
$2,21098224 Baring
$2,02098288 Skykomish
$1,950
Rent limits for Bellevue
Other housing authorities in Washington: Seattle Housing Authority
Not sure which authority covers an address? Use the PHA directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KCHA payment standard?
A payment standard is the maximum monthly amount KCHA uses to calculate a voucher's housing assistance for a given unit size. KCHA 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. KCHA is a HUD Moving to Work (MTW) agency, so it can use MTW flexibility to set payment standards outside that usual range.
Why might KCHA'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. KCHA 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, KCHA may also use local payment standards that differ from the basic range. Always use KCHA's own published schedule for your actual voucher amount.
Where can I find KCHA's official payment standard schedule?
On KCHA's website (https://www.kcha.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 KCHA'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 KCHA's schedule for the ZIP of the unit, not where you live now.