Lee County, AL: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,2772-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1671-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$83,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$108,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lee County is $1,277 a month, up 8.1% from $1,181 in FY2026. Lee County belongs to the Auburn-Opelika, AL HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Lee County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$891	$847	+5.2%	$802 – $980
1 bedroom	$1,167	$1,077	+8.4%	$1,051 – $1,283
2 bedrooms	$1,277	$1,181	+8.1%	$1,150 – $1,404
3 bedrooms	$1,548	$1,494	+3.6%	$1,394 – $1,702
4 bedrooms	$1,794	$1,699	+5.6%	$1,615 – $1,973

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Lee County that is typically $1,150 to $1,404 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$30,478median income of renter households

$1,058Median gross rent, all units

42%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

57%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $30,478 can afford about $762 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,277 is $515 (67.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $51,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,972 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lee County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,058 ±$37
Median income of renter households	$30,478 ±$2,358
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.3% ±3.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	37.2% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	20,528

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$856	$1,058	+23.6%
Median renter household income	$28,112	$30,478	+8.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.6%	57.3%	+5.7 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,070 to $1,450 depending on the ZIP code.

All 17 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
36801	$830	$1,090	$1,190	$1,440	$1,670
36803	$890	$1,170	$1,280	$1,550	$1,800
36804	$810	$970	$1,070	$1,350	$1,540
36830	$1,010	$1,320	$1,450	$1,760	$2,040
36831	$890	$1,170	$1,280	$1,550	$1,800
36832	$900	$1,180	$1,290	$1,560	$1,810
36849	$940	$1,240	$1,360	$1,640	$1,900
36850	$770	$970	$1,070	$1,350	$1,530
36852	$830	$1,090	$1,200	$1,460	$1,660
36854	$900	$1,150	$1,280	$1,630	$1,710
36865	$900	$1,180	$1,290	$1,560	$1,810
36866	$770	$970	$1,070	$1,350	$1,590
36867	$930	$1,010	$1,150	$1,490	$1,730
36870	$860	$1,070	$1,180	$1,460	$1,690
36874	$890	$1,150	$1,270	$1,540	$1,790
36877	$980	$1,280	$1,400	$1,700	$1,970
36879	$770	$970	$1,070	$1,350	$1,530

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Lee County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $108,900 (FY2025: $95,300, +14.3%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$22,050 +10.0%	$25,200 +10.0%	$28,350 +6.4%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$36,700 +9.9%	$41,950 +10.0%	$47,150 +9.9%	$52,400 +10.0%	$56,600 +9.9%	$60,800 +9.9%	$65,000 +10.0%	$69,150 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$58,700 +9.9%	$67,100 +10.0%	$75,500 +10.0%	$83,850 +10.0%	$90,550 +10.0%	$97,250 +9.9%	$104,000 +10.0%	$110,700 +10.0%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.