Clark County, KY: 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).

$1,4162-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2051-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$102,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Clark County is $1,416 a month, up 11.3% from $1,272 in FY2026. Clark County belongs to the Lexington-Fayette, KY 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 Clark County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$986	$883	+11.7%	$888 – $1,084
1 bedroom	$1,205	$1,079	+11.7%	$1,085 – $1,325
2 bedrooms	$1,416	$1,272	+11.3%	$1,275 – $1,557
3 bedrooms	$1,948	$1,743	+11.8%	$1,754 – $2,142
4 bedrooms	$2,108	$1,940	+8.7%	$1,898 – $2,318

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 Clark County that is typically $1,275 to $1,557 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?

$37,416median income of renter households

$938Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

51%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $37,416 can afford about $935 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,416 is $481 (51.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $56,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $50,976 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Clark County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$938 ±$31
Median income of renter households	$37,416 ±$5,816
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.4% ±9.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.9% ±6.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,089

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$727	$938	+29.0%
Median renter household income	$30,914	$37,416	+21.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.4%	51.4%	+11.0 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.

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 $1,150 to $1,980 depending on the ZIP code.

All 57 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
40311	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40312	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40324	$1,020	$1,250	$1,470	$2,020	$2,190
40339	$950	$1,160	$1,360	$1,870	$2,020
40340	$930	$1,130	$1,330	$1,830	$1,980
40347	$900	$1,080	$1,290	$1,750	$1,930
40348	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40353	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40356	$950	$1,160	$1,360	$1,870	$2,020
40357	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40361	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40370	$1,050	$1,260	$1,500	$2,070	$2,240
40374	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40379	$890	$1,090	$1,280	$1,760	$1,910
40383	$950	$1,160	$1,360	$1,870	$2,020
40390	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
40391	$820	$1,000	$1,180	$1,620	$1,760
40392	$820	$1,000	$1,180	$1,620	$1,760
40502	$950	$1,170	$1,370	$1,890	$2,040
40503	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40504	$830	$1,010	$1,190	$1,640	$1,770
40505	$840	$1,020	$1,200	$1,650	$1,790
40506	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40507	$860	$1,050	$1,230	$1,690	$1,830
40508	$970	$1,180	$1,390	$1,910	$2,070
40509	$1,230	$1,500	$1,760	$2,420	$2,620
40510	$1,100	$1,340	$1,580	$2,170	$2,350
40511	$1,090	$1,330	$1,560	$2,150	$2,320
40512	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40513	$1,250	$1,530	$1,800	$2,480	$2,680
40514	$1,380	$1,690	$1,980	$2,720	$2,950
40515	$1,180	$1,440	$1,690	$2,330	$2,520
40516	$970	$1,180	$1,390	$1,910	$2,070
40517	$1,040	$1,270	$1,490	$2,050	$2,220
40522	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40523	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40524	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40526	$970	$1,180	$1,390	$1,910	$2,070
40533	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40536	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40544	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40555	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40574	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40575	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40576	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40577	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40578	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40579	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40580	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40581	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40582	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40583	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40588	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40591	$1,010	$1,230	$1,450	$2,000	$2,160
40601	$820	$940	$1,180	$1,510	$1,870
41010	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750
41031	$800	$980	$1,150	$1,570	$1,750

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

HUD income limits for Clark County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $102,100 (FY2025: $102,400, −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%)	$21,500 ±0.0%	$24,550 −0.2%	$27,600 −0.2%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,750 −0.3%	$40,850 −0.4%	$45,950 −0.3%	$51,050 −0.3%	$55,150 −0.3%	$59,250 −0.3%	$63,350 −0.2%	$67,400 −0.3%
Low income (80%)	$57,200 −0.3%	$65,400 −0.2%	$73,550 −0.3%	$81,700 −0.2%	$88,250 −0.3%	$94,800 −0.3%	$101,350 −0.2%	$107,850 −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.