Limestone 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).

$1,3412-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1771-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$92,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$115,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Limestone County is $1,341 a month, up 2.4% from $1,310 in FY2026. Limestone County belongs to the Huntsville, AL MSA 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 Limestone County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,119	$1,030	+8.6%	$1,008 – $1,230
1 bedroom	$1,177	$1,136	+3.6%	$1,060 – $1,294
2 bedrooms	$1,341	$1,310	+2.4%	$1,207 – $1,475
3 bedrooms	$1,735	$1,690	+2.7%	$1,562 – $1,908
4 bedrooms	$2,241	$2,109	+6.3%	$2,017 – $2,465

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 Limestone County that is typically $1,207 to $1,475 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?

$50,509median income of renter households

$970Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

41%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $50,509 can afford about $1,263 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,341 is $78 (6.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $53,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $48,276 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Limestone County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$970 ±$72
Median income of renter households	$50,509 ±$5,397
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.8% ±4.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.3% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	7,933

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$691	$970	+40.4%
Median renter household income	$31,531	$50,509	+60.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.1%	40.8%	−0.3 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 $1,180 to $2,010 depending on the ZIP code.

All 45 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
35610	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35611	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35612	$940	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35613	$1,200	$1,260	$1,440	$1,860	$2,410
35614	$980	$1,040	$1,180	$1,530	$1,970
35615	$1,380	$1,530	$1,760	$2,270	$2,830
35620	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35647	$950	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35649	$1,460	$1,530	$1,760	$2,270	$2,910
35652	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35671	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35739	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35741	$1,260	$1,330	$1,510	$1,950	$2,520
35742	$940	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35748	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35749	$1,360	$1,430	$1,630	$2,110	$2,720
35750	$1,060	$1,110	$1,270	$1,640	$2,120
35756	$1,680	$1,760	$2,010	$2,600	$3,360
35757	$1,460	$1,540	$1,750	$2,260	$2,930
35758	$1,360	$1,430	$1,630	$2,110	$2,720
35759	$1,380	$1,450	$1,650	$2,130	$2,760
35760	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35761	$1,020	$1,070	$1,220	$1,580	$2,040
35762	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35763	$1,680	$1,760	$2,010	$2,600	$3,360
35773	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35776	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35801	$1,210	$1,270	$1,450	$1,880	$2,420
35802	$1,080	$1,130	$1,290	$1,670	$2,160
35803	$1,190	$1,260	$1,430	$1,850	$2,390
35804	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35805	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35806	$1,300	$1,370	$1,560	$2,020	$2,610
35807	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35808	$1,680	$1,760	$2,010	$2,600	$3,360
35809	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35810	$1,040	$1,100	$1,250	$1,620	$2,090
35811	$1,070	$1,120	$1,280	$1,660	$2,140
35812	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35813	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35814	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35815	$1,140	$1,200	$1,370	$1,770	$2,290
35816	$930	$1,030	$1,180	$1,530	$1,900
35824	$1,280	$1,340	$1,530	$1,980	$2,560
35896	$1,150	$1,210	$1,380	$1,780	$2,310

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

HUD income limits for Limestone County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $115,100 (FY2025: $115,500, −0.3%). 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%)	$24,200 −0.4%	$27,650 −0.4%	$31,100 −0.3%	$34,550 −0.3%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$40,300 −0.4%	$46,050 −0.3%	$51,800 −0.4%	$57,550 −0.3%	$62,200 −0.3%	$66,800 −0.3%	$71,400 −0.3%	$76,000 −0.3%
Low income (80%)	$64,500 −0.3%	$73,700 −0.3%	$82,900 −0.4%	$92,100 −0.3%	$99,500 −0.3%	$106,850 −0.3%	$114,250 −0.3%	$121,600 −0.3%

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.