Where You Can Use a Section 8 Voucher: Locations, Limits, and Next Steps

Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) doesn’t lock you into one specific apartment complex; it is designed so you can rent from private landlords in approved locations. However, there are real limits on where you can use your voucher, which housing authority controls it, and what happens if you want to move.

This guide focuses on the “locations” side of Section 8—where vouchers can usually be used, which offices control those areas, and how to take your next step.

Quick summary: how Section 8 locations usually work

  • You apply through a local Public Housing Agency (PHA), not directly through HUD.
  • Your initial voucher is usually tied to that PHA’s jurisdiction for the first 12 months.
  • After the first year, you can often “port” (transfer) your voucher to other areas.
  • Different PHAs have different payment standards, so some neighborhoods are affordable with a voucher and some are not.
  • You must rent a unit that passes HUD Housing Quality Standards and has a reasonable rent for that area.

1. Core idea: You rent in a private unit, but under your PHA’s rules

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is run locally by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), which are usually city, county, or regional housing authorities that receive funding and rules from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Your voucher is assigned to one PHA, and that PHA’s “jurisdiction” determines where you can rent at first and which areas they will approve.

Key terms to know:

  • Public Housing Agency (PHA) — Local housing authority that runs Section 8 and sets local rules within HUD guidelines.
  • Jurisdiction — The city, county, or region where a PHA is allowed to administer vouchers.
  • Portability (“porting”) — Moving your voucher from one PHA’s jurisdiction to another.
  • Payment standard — The maximum monthly amount your PHA will typically pay for a unit of a given size in a certain area.

Direct answer: Initially, you usually must rent within the jurisdiction of the PHA that issued your voucher, unless you already lived in their area when you applied; after about a year in good standing, you can often request to move to a different city or county using portability.

2. Finding which locations your voucher can be used in

Your first task is to pin down which PHA you’re under and what areas they cover, because this directly controls which neighborhoods and cities are realistic.

Most people interact with at least two official touchpoints here:

  • Your local housing authority / PHA office (sometimes called “Housing Commission” or “Housing Services”).
  • The HUD local field office that oversees multiple PHAs in your state or region (helpful if there’s confusion or disputes about jurisdiction).

To find your PHA’s coverage area:

  1. Check your voucher or approval letter.
    The top or header usually lists the PHA’s name (for example, “City of X Housing Authority” or “County Y Housing Commission”).

  2. Call or visit that PHA.
    Ask directly: “What areas are in your Section 8 voucher jurisdiction, and do you have any outside-area agreements?”
    Some PHAs have agreements to administer vouchers in neighboring cities or counties.

  3. Search for your state’s official housing authority or HUD portal.
    Look for websites ending in .gov and avoid any site asking for payment just to “check eligibility” or “jump the waitlist.”

What typically happens next: The PHA will give you either a written map/list of zip codes or cities or verbal guidance on where you can and cannot look for housing with your voucher.

3. Where in a city you can look: payment standards and landlord choice

Even within a PHA’s jurisdiction, you still have to choose specific neighborhoods and units that meet Section 8 rules.

Most PHAs divide their area into “payment standard” zones based on HUD’s Fair Market Rents. This usually affects locations in these ways:

  • High-rent areas (often “better opportunity” neighborhoods) may be out of range unless your PHA has higher payment standards there.
  • Lower-rent areas are more likely to have units that fit the voucher price limits.
  • Some PHAs use “Small Area Fair Market Rents” by ZIP code, which can open up more neighborhoods.

Landlords also affect your location options:

  • The unit must be owned by a landlord willing to participate in Section 8.
  • The rent must pass a “rent reasonableness” test compared to similar unassisted units nearby.
  • The unit must pass a HUD Housing Quality Standards inspection before move-in.

Documents you’ll typically need:

  • Voucher award letter — Shows your bedroom size and PHA, which landlords and PHAs use to check if a unit can be approved in that location.
  • Photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or other acceptable ID) — Often needed for PHA appointments and when signing leases.
  • Proof of current address or homelessness status (utility bill, shelter letter, letter from a caseworker) — Sometimes used to confirm residency, which can affect whether you can initially rent outside the issuing PHA’s area.

Realistic next action today: Call or visit your PHA and ask for a copy of their current payment standards and a list/map of allowed zip codes or neighborhoods. This gives you a concrete list of locations where landlords are more likely to pass the rent reasonableness test.

4. Step-by-step: checking if a specific location will work

Use this when you have a city, neighborhood, or even a specific address in mind and want to know if you can use your voucher there.

  1. Confirm the PHA jurisdiction.

    • Action: Look at your voucher and note the PHA name and any printed “service area” or city/county.
    • What to expect next: You’ll know the base area you’re allowed to rent in for at least the first year.

  2. Ask the PHA if that city/ZIP is inside their jurisdiction.

    • Action: Call the PHA customer service number listed on your voucher or their .gov site and say, “I have a Housing Choice Voucher. Is [city or ZIP] within your jurisdiction for voucher units?”
    • What to expect next: Staff will usually confirm yes/no and may mention any required agreements with another PHA.

  3. Request the payment standard and bedroom size limits for that location.

    • Action: Ask, “What is the payment standard for a [1/2/3]-bedroom unit in that ZIP code or city?”
    • What to expect next: You’ll get a dollar range that helps you know whether local rents are likely to pass; they may mail or email a chart.

  4. Check with potential landlords about Section 8 acceptance.

    • Action: When calling about a rental ad, say something like, “Do you accept Housing Choice Vouchers / Section 8?”
    • What to expect next: Some landlords will say no; others will say yes and then coordinate with the PHA for inspections and paperwork.

  5. Submit your Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA) to the PHA.

    • Action: Once a landlord agrees, fill out the RTA form together (PHA-provided) and return it to your PHA by the deadline on your voucher.
    • What to expect next: The PHA schedules an inspection; if the unit passes inspection and rent reasonableness, they’ll approve the tenancy and issue a move-in date or HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) contract start date.

5. Moving to another city or state: how portability affects locations

After you have used your voucher successfully (commonly 12 months in your PHA’s area, though rules can vary), you can often “port” your voucher to another PHA’s jurisdiction if you want to move for work, family support, or safety.

Key steps for portability:

  1. Request portability from your current PHA.
    Ask, “What is your process to port my voucher to [new city/state]?” and whether they are currently “billing” or “absorbing” new vouchers.

  2. Identify the receiving PHA.
    Your current PHA will usually tell you which PHA serves the city or county you want to move to, and they will send your paperwork there.

  3. Follow the receiving PHA’s local rules.
    The new PHA may have different payment standards, paperwork, and timelines for briefing and unit search; you’ll be subject to those once they accept your voucher.

What happens next: Typically, your current PHA pauses or ends assistance in your old unit, sends your file to the receiving PHA, and you must attend a briefing with the new PHA before searching for units there. There can be gaps in assistance while the transfer is processed, so ask about timing and overlap before giving notice at your current place.

6. Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for

A very common snag is that a unit is in your PHA’s jurisdiction but the rent is higher than the PHA’s payment standard for that neighborhood, so the PHA either denies it or requires you to pay an unaffordable share. To reduce this risk, ask the PHA for the exact payment standard and maximum tenant share rules before you sign anything, and show the landlord those numbers so they understand what rent level is likely to pass the rent reasonableness and affordability checks.

7. If you’re stuck: missing info, unclear borders, or no one answers

If you hit a wall figuring out where your voucher can be used, there are a few legitimate ways to get help through official or trusted channels.

If you can’t tell which PHA covers your desired location:

  • Call your current PHA and ask, “Which housing authority administers vouchers in [city/county]?” They usually have a list.
  • Contact your regional HUD field office (find it via your state government or HUD site) and ask, “Which PHA has jurisdiction for Housing Choice Vouchers in [specific city or county]?”

If you can’t get through to the PHA by phone or online:

  • Visit the PHA office in person during posted lobby hours (bring ID and your voucher letter).
  • Ask security or reception, “Where can I get written information on your voucher jurisdiction and payment standards?”

If documentation is an issue for proving local residency:

  • Bring whatever you have: shelter letter, mail from a government agency, school enrollment document, or a letter from a case manager or social worker.
  • Ask the PHA, “What forms of proof of local residency do you accept for Section 8 purposes?” and which alternatives they allow if you are homeless or doubled-up.

Because Section 8 is a federal program run locally, rules and procedures may vary by state and by PHA, including how strictly they handle jurisdiction at the start and how they manage portability.

For safety, always:

  • Use sites ending in .gov or clearly identified housing authority sites for official information.
  • Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to “get Section 8 faster,” to “move your voucher to a better city,” or to “sell you a voucher” — these are commonly scams.
  • Never share your Social Security number, voucher number, or ID copies with unofficial websites or social media groups.

Once you’ve confirmed which PHA controls the area you want, obtained their payment standards and jurisdiction map, and know how to submit an RTA or portability request, you’re ready to start contacting landlords and checking specific addresses to see whether your Section 8 voucher can be used there.