Spokane County, WA: 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).

$1,4942-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1731-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$88,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$110,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Spokane County is $1,494 a month, down 2.4% from $1,531 in FY2026. Spokane County belongs to the Spokane, WA 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 Spokane County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,116	$1,103	+1.2%	$1,005 – $1,227
1 bedroom	$1,173	$1,193	−1.7%	$1,056 – $1,290
2 bedrooms	$1,494	$1,531	−2.4%	$1,345 – $1,643
3 bedrooms	$2,047	$2,088	−2.0%	$1,843 – $2,251
4 bedrooms	$2,497	$2,506	−0.4%	$2,248 – $2,746

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 Spokane County that is typically $1,345 to $1,643 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.

Washington has a statewide cap on rent increases. 7% plus inflation, never more than 10% in 12 months. 2026: 9.683%. 2027: 10%. Calculate the maximum increase for Washington →

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$50,055median income of renter households

$1,283Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $50,055 can afford about $1,251 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,494 is $243 (19.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $59,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $53,784 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Spokane County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,283 ±$20
Median income of renter households	$50,055 ±$1,710
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	52.1% ±1.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.9% ±1.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	73,985

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$913	$1,283	+40.5%
Median renter household income	$36,064	$50,055	+38.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	49.9%	52.1%	+2.2 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 $1,380 to $2,200 depending on the ZIP code.

All 57 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
99001	$1,190	$1,260	$1,600	$2,190	$2,670
99003	$1,050	$1,110	$1,410	$1,930	$2,360
99004	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,290
99005	$1,180	$1,240	$1,580	$2,170	$2,640
99006	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99008	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99009	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99011	$1,490	$1,570	$2,000	$2,740	$3,340
99012	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99013	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99014	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,290
99016	$1,630	$1,710	$2,180	$2,990	$3,640
99018	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99019	$1,640	$1,730	$2,200	$3,010	$3,680
99020	$1,030	$1,090	$1,390	$1,910	$2,320
99021	$1,190	$1,260	$1,600	$2,190	$2,670
99022	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99023	$1,520	$1,590	$2,020	$2,770	$3,380
99025	$1,170	$1,220	$1,520	$2,080	$2,540
99026	$1,030	$1,080	$1,380	$1,900	$2,310
99027	$1,010	$1,100	$1,420	$1,960	$2,290
99029	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99030	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99031	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99032	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99033	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99036	$1,100	$1,160	$1,480	$2,020	$2,470
99037	$1,190	$1,260	$1,600	$2,190	$2,670
99039	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99110	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99156	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99170	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99201	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99202	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,270
99203	$1,080	$1,130	$1,440	$1,970	$2,410
99204	$1,000	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,260
99205	$1,130	$1,190	$1,510	$2,070	$2,520
99206	$1,050	$1,110	$1,410	$1,930	$2,360
99207	$1,070	$1,120	$1,430	$1,960	$2,390
99208	$1,170	$1,230	$1,570	$2,150	$2,620
99209	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99210	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99211	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99212	$1,070	$1,120	$1,430	$1,960	$2,390
99213	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99214	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99216	$1,160	$1,220	$1,550	$2,120	$2,590
99217	$1,180	$1,240	$1,580	$2,170	$2,640
99218	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,290
99219	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99220	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99223	$1,170	$1,230	$1,570	$2,150	$2,620
99224	$1,160	$1,220	$1,560	$2,140	$2,610
99228	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490
99251	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,290
99258	$1,020	$1,080	$1,380	$1,880	$2,270
99260	$1,110	$1,170	$1,490	$2,040	$2,490

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

HUD income limits for Spokane County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $110,500 (FY2025: $100,800, +9.6%). 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%)	$23,250 +9.7%	$26,550 +9.7%	$29,850 +9.5%	$33,150 +3.1%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,700 +9.6%	$44,200 +9.5%	$49,750 +9.6%	$55,250 +9.6%	$59,700 +9.6%	$64,100 +9.6%	$68,550 +9.7%	$72,950 +9.6%
Low income (80%)	$61,900 +9.6%	$70,750 +9.6%	$79,600 +9.6%	$88,400 +9.6%	$95,500 +9.6%	$102,550 +9.6%	$109,650 +9.6%	$116,700 +9.6%

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.