La Plata County, CO: 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).

$1,8212-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,3921-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$91,75080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$114,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in La Plata County is $1,821 a month, up 14.6% from $1,589 in FY2026. La Plata County belongs to the La Plata County, CO FMR area (non-metro county), 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 La Plata County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,338	$1,181	+13.3%	$1,205 – $1,471
1 bedroom	$1,392	$1,211	+14.9%	$1,253 – $1,531
2 bedrooms	$1,821	$1,589	+14.6%	$1,639 – $2,003
3 bedrooms	$2,209	$1,942	+13.7%	$1,989 – $2,429
4 bedrooms	$2,393	$2,288	+4.6%	$2,154 – $2,632

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 La Plata County that is typically $1,639 to $2,003 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?

$49,974median income of renter households

$1,504Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

53%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $49,974 can afford about $1,249 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,821 is $572 (45.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $72,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $65,556 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

La Plata County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,504 ±$91
Median income of renter households	$49,974 ±$5,359
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.6% ±6.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.8% ±4.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,626

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,147	$1,504	+31.1%
Median renter household income	$40,533	$49,974	+23.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	54.6%	52.6%	−2.0 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.

HUD income limits for La Plata County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $114,700 (FY2025: $117,500, −2.4%). 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%)	$24,100 −2.4%	$27,550 −2.3%	$31,000 −2.4%	$34,400 −2.4%	$38,680 +1.5%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$40,150 −2.4%	$45,900 −2.3%	$51,650 −2.4%	$57,350 −2.4%	$61,950 −2.4%	$66,550 −2.3%	$71,150 −2.3%	$75,750 −2.3%
Low income (80%)	$64,250 −2.4%	$73,400 −2.4%	$82,600 −2.4%	$91,750 −2.4%	$99,100 −2.4%	$106,450 −2.4%	$113,800 −2.4%	$121,150 −2.4%

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.