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SAFMR — Small Area Fair Market Rents

Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) are fair market rents calculated at the ZIP code level instead of for an entire metropolitan area. In the Housing Choice Voucher program, SAFMRs let payment standards follow neighborhood-level market rents — HUD adopted them through rulemaking as a tool to expand housing choice, requires their use in certain HUD-designated metropolitan areas, and allows other agencies to opt in. The governing methodology and designation requirements are set by regulation and by HUD publication, so verify current requirements and designated areas against the primary sources below.

Primary sources

Tracked guidance

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SAFMR requirements live inside the Housing Choice Voucher program, so this hub tracks HCV-tagged guidance.

2026-17777Federal RegisterActiveSep 1, 2026

Revision of Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work Demonstration Program

This notice revises HUD's Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program, which was last published August 28, 2020 with technical revisions in March 2025. The revisions cover funding flexibility, program administration, special purpose vouchers, and multiple MTW waivers in Appendix I and II, including changes to stepped rent, imputed income, work requirements, and local non-traditional activity limits. HUD is soliciting public comments on these revisions, with a 60-day comment period followed by an additional 30-day period.

Comments close in 61 days
HCVPBVPublic HousingHOTMA+4 more
Primary source Status & dates
2026-17891Federal RegisterActiveSep 1, 2026

Fair Market Rents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program, and Other Programs, Fiscal Year 2027

This HUD notice publishes the Fiscal Year 2027 Fair Market Rents (FMRs) used to set payment standards under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Moderate Rehabilitation SRO Program, and other rent-related calculations. It explains the methodology HUD used to calculate the FY2027 FMRs, including changes to how utility inflation is measured, and describes how PHAs and other interested parties can submit comments or request reevaluation of their area's FMRs before the rents take effect on October 1, 2026.

Comments close in 29 days
HCVHOTMA
Primary source Status & dates
PIH 2026-22PIH NoticeActiveAug 25, 2026

Offset of Excess Reserves for Initial Moving to Work Public Housing Agencies and PHA Appeals

This notice explains how HUD will offset excess public housing and HCV reserves for Initial Moving to Work (MTW) PHAs—those under the MTW Standard Agreement designated before the 2016 act—for the CY2026 funding cycle, protecting 4 months of operating expenses from offset. It also describes the appeals process, including data correction appeals and statutory obligation appeals for committed capital/development activities, and the required documentation and review process. PHA staff must understand these calculation methods and appeal deadlines to protect their agency's reserves and renewal funding allocations.

HCVPublic HousingRADPBV+1 more
Primary source Status & dates
PIH 2026-20PIH NoticeActiveAug 10, 2026

Revision to Emergency Housing Voucher and Stability Voucher Program Requirements Related to Payment Standards

This notice removes the special waiver that let PHAs set EHV and Stability Voucher payment standards between 90% and 120% of the FMR, reverting them to the standard regulatory range. PHAs must now follow 24 CFR 982.503(c) for the basic 90-110% FMR range and 982.503(d) for exception payment standards above 110%, and must come into compliance within 60 days for new SV admissions and current EHV/SV families moving units.

HCVEHV
Primary source Status & dates
2026-16042Federal RegisterActiveAug 6, 2026

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

This notice announces HUD's reestablishment of a computer matching program with DHS/FEMA and HUD's CDBG-DR grantees to share data for disaster recovery purposes. The matching will be used to transition HUD-assisted households displaced by disasters back into HUD housing, calculate CDBG-DR grant allocations, and support duplication-of-benefits and flood insurance compliance reviews. PHA staff should note that HUD Public Housing Agency Code, HUD Program Code, and recipient/household member data may be shared with FEMA as part of this program. Public comments are due by September 8, 2026, and the program becomes effective that same date unless comments require modification.

Comments close in 6 days
Public HousingHCV
Primary source Status & dates
2026-15753Federal RegisterActiveAug 4, 2026

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

HUD is re-establishing a computer matching agreement with HHS to compare information on HUD rental assistance participants against the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) to verify income and prevent improper payments. Matched results will be uploaded into the EIV system and made available to PHAs, owners/agents, contract administrators, and independent public auditors to verify tenant-reported income. Public comments on the notice are due by September 3, 2026, and the matching program is expected to run for 18 months starting September 9, 2026, with possible 12-month extension.

Comments close in 7 days
HCVPBVPublic HousingLIHTC
Primary source Status & dates

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