Columbia County, FL: 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).

$1,1872-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9311-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$66,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Columbia County is $1,187 a month, down 9.9% from $1,318 in FY2026. Columbia County belongs to the Columbia County, FL 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 Columbia County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$891	$990	−10.0%	$802 – $980
1 bedroom	$931	$1,034	−10.0%	$838 – $1,024
2 bedrooms	$1,187	$1,318	−9.9%	$1,069 – $1,305
3 bedrooms	$1,422	$1,580	−10.0%	$1,280 – $1,564
4 bedrooms	$1,571	$1,745	−10.0%	$1,414 – $1,728

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 Columbia County that is typically $1,069 to $1,305 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?

$41,427median income of renter households

$976Median gross rent, all units

28%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $41,427 can afford about $1,036 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,187 is $151 (14.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,732 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Columbia County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$976 ±$52
Median income of renter households	$41,427 ±$8,745
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.7% ±7.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.3% ±5.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	6,730

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$829	$976	+17.7%
Median renter household income	$34,294	$41,427	+20.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.7%	47.7%	+4.0 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 Columbia County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,000 (FY2025: $71,900, +15.4%). 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%)	$17,450 +8.4%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +5.3%	$54,800 +8.3%
Very low income (50%)	$29,050 +8.2%	$33,200 +8.3%	$37,350 +8.3%	$41,500 +8.4%	$44,850 +8.3%	$48,150 +8.3%	$51,500 +8.4%	$54,800 +8.3%
Low income (80%)	$46,500 +8.3%	$53,150 +8.4%	$59,800 +8.3%	$66,400 +8.3%	$71,750 +8.3%	$77,050 +8.3%	$82,350 +8.3%	$87,650 +8.3%

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.