PHA Directory / Seattle Housing Authority
Seattle Housing Authority Payment Standards 2026–27
Seattle Housing Authority runs the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program for the City of 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. Seattle Housing Authority 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 27 ZIP codes in its area, the benchmark Seattle Housing Authority's schedule is built from. Seattle Housing Authority's own published payment standards, effective November 21, 2023, are one schedule for its whole area, shown below.
Seattle Housing Authority's published payment standards (effective November 21, 2023)
Monthly amounts, one schedule for all of the City of Seattle, as published by Seattle Housing Authority. Source: Seattle Housing Authority Voucher Payment Standards (web page) (read October 15, 2026). Seattle Housing Authority may revise its schedule; your voucher paperwork is final.
| ZIP | City / area | Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ZIP codes in the City of Seattle | $2,042 | $2,100 | $2,455 | $3,297 | $3,847 | |
- These are SHA's market-rate payment standards, which apply generally to units in the private rental market. SHA publishes a separate, lower affordable-housing payment standard (effective 6/17/2024) for units with nonprofit or tax-credit status.
- SHA sets one amount per bedroom size for the City of Seattle rather than by ZIP code. SHA is a Moving to Work agency.
Seattle Housing Authority Utility Allowances 2025
Monthly allowances by which utilities the tenant pays, effective February 1, 2025. Use the one row that matches the unit; the amount is added to the rent to get the gross rent compared with the payment standard. Source: Seattle Housing Authority HCV utility estimates (web page, effective February 1, 2025) (read October 17, 2026).
| Utility | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 5+ BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utility estimate by tenant-paid utilities | ||||||
| Tenant pays all utilities | $160 | $185 | $285 | $435 | $595 | $750 |
| Tenant pays electricity and heat | $50 | $65 | $85 | $120 | $180 | $245 |
| Tenant pays electricity only | $30 | $35 | $45 | $65 | $95 | $125 |
| Tenant pays no utilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
- SHA: Amounts are flat utility estimates chosen by which utilities the tenant pays, not itemized by utility type.
- SHA: The schedule took effect Feb 1, 2025 for tenant-based move-ins, Apr 1, 2025 for project-based move-ins and May 1, 2025 for annual recertifications.
- SHA: Rainier Vista, Lake City Court, High Point and NewHolly use a different utility schedule.
- SHA: Estimates reflect typical costs for energy-conservative households and exclude non-essential services such as phone or cable.
Contact Seattle Housing Authority
Phone: (206) 239-1674
Email: voucherlist@seattlehousing.org
Address: 190 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
HUD rents by ZIP code
2-bedroom HUD figure for each ZIP. Open a ZIP for every unit size.
$3,49098102 Seattle
$3,03098103 Seattle
$3,00098104 Seattle
$2,35098105 Seattle
$2,80098106 Seattle
$2,49098107 Seattle
$3,04098109 Seattle
$3,47098112 Seattle
$2,64098115 Seattle
$2,95098116 Seattle
$2,52098117 Seattle
$2,78098118 Seattle
$2,43098119 Seattle
$2,74098121 Seattle
$3,63098122 Seattle
$3,16098125 Seattle
$2,64098126 Seattle
$2,27098133 Seattle
$2,58098134 Seattle
$2,17098136 Seattle
$2,60098144 Seattle
$2,64098154 Seattle
$2,60098164 Seattle
$2,35098174 Seattle
$2,60098177 Seattle
$2,74098199 Seattle
$3,010
Rent limits for Seattle
Other housing authorities in Washington: KCHA
Not sure which authority covers an address? Use the PHA directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Seattle Housing Authority payment standard?
Seattle Housing Authority's published 2-bedroom payment standard, effective November 21, 2023, is $2,455 throughout its area (source: Seattle Housing Authority Voucher Payment Standards (web page)). A payment standard is the maximum monthly amount Seattle Housing Authority uses to calculate a voucher's housing assistance for a given unit size. Seattle Housing Authority 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. Seattle Housing Authority is a HUD Moving to Work (MTW) agency, so it can use MTW flexibility to set payment standards outside that usual range.
What are Seattle Housing Authority's utility allowances for 2025?
Seattle Housing Authority's current utility allowances took effect on February 1, 2025 (source: Seattle Housing Authority HCV utility estimates (web page, effective February 1, 2025)). For a 2-bedroom, the allowance depends on which utilities the tenant pays: $285 (all utilities), $85 (electricity and heat), $45 (electricity only). The allowance 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 Seattle Housing Authority'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. Seattle Housing Authority 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, Seattle Housing Authority may also use local payment standards that differ from the basic range. Always use Seattle Housing Authority's own published schedule for your actual voucher amount.
Where can I find Seattle Housing Authority's official payment standard schedule?
On Seattle Housing Authority's website (https://www.seattlehousing.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 Seattle Housing Authority'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 Seattle Housing Authority's schedule for the ZIP of the unit, not where you live now.