Section 8 housing in St. Louis: how the program works in 2025

Last updated 2026-07-10

Which agencies run Section 8 housing in St. Louis?

Two separate public housing authorities cover the St. Louis metro. The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) covers the City of St. Louis, which is an independent city that sits inside no county at all. The St. Louis County Housing Authority (SLCHA) covers the 88 municipalities inside St. Louis County, from Clayton to Florissant to Chesterfield. These are legally distinct agencies. Separate waitlists, separate payment standards, separate inspectors. ^[1]

Live in Creve Coeur? You deal with SLCHA. Live in Bevo Mill? That's SLHA. The metro works as one housing market, which is exactly why the split confuses people, but the line is real and it shapes every step you take.

HUD also runs a St. Louis field office that oversees both agencies and handles complaints, Fair Housing Act enforcement, and funding. ^[2] For how these agencies fit together, see our article on what a housing authority is and what it actually does.

Are the St. Louis Section 8 waitlists open right now?

No. As of mid-2025, both the SLHA and SLCHA Housing Choice Voucher waitlists are closed to new applicants. SLHA last opened its list briefly in 2022 and took tens of thousands of applications within days before shutting it again. SLCHA has kept its list closed for the same reason: demand runs far past the number of vouchers. ^[1][3]

That pattern holds nationally. HUD's Worst Case Housing Needs report to Congress counts roughly 1.3 million households holding Housing Choice Vouchers, with an estimated 2.6 million more income-eligible households on waiting lists or turned away entirely. ^[12]

Here's what to actually do. Sign up for waitlist opening alerts on each agency's site: SLHA at stlouisha.org and SLCHA at slcha.org. Turn on email notifications if they offer them. Check back every few months. When a list opens, it usually stays open for a window of 24 to 72 hours and then closes.

Porting in from another city is a separate door. If you already hold a voucher from a different housing authority, you may be able to move it to St. Louis without touching either waitlist. See the porting section below.

For a national view of which lists are accepting applications right now, see our guide on open Section 8 waiting lists.

What are the income limits for Section 8 in St. Louis?

HUD sets income limits for the St. Louis metro every year, tied to Area Median Income (AMI). For the St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area, the FY 2024 limits are:

Household Size	Very Low Income (50% AMI)	Low Income (80% AMI)
1 person	$33,750	$54,000
2 persons	$38,550	$61,700
3 persons	$43,350	$69,400
4 persons	$48,100	$77,100
5 persons	$51,950	$83,300
6 persons	$55,800	$89,500

Source: HUD FY 2024 Income Limits Documentation System ^[4]

To qualify for a voucher, your income has to sit at or below 50% AMI when you're admitted. By statute, at least 75% of newly admitted households each year must come in at or below 30% AMI, the "extremely low income" line, which lands around $28,860 for a family of four in St. Louis. ^[5]

These limits move every year, usually in the spring. A household that missed the cutoff by a hair last year can qualify this year on the same paycheck if the limits went up. Tracking how the housing choice voucher program sets these numbers is the easiest way to know when to reapply.

What are the Section 8 payment standards in St. Louis for 2024-2025?

A payment standard is the ceiling on what your housing authority will pay toward rent and utilities. It's built off HUD's Fair Market Rents (FMRs), but agencies get some room, usually setting standards between 90% and 110% of FMR. ^[5]

HUD's FY 2024 Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis, MO-IL metro are:

Bedroom Size	HUD FMR (2024)
0 BR (efficiency)	$795
1 BR	$932
2 BR	$1,131
3 BR	$1,493
4 BR	$1,755

Source: HUD FY 2024 Fair Market Rents Documentation System ^[6]

SLHA and SLCHA set their own standards off these figures, so the two can differ by a bit. Both updated theirs for HUD's 2024 FMR cycle. The rule underneath is simple: you generally pay 30% of your adjusted income toward rent and utilities, and the agency pays the rest up to the payment standard. If the rent runs above the standard, that extra comes out of your pocket. ^[5]

The math matters, so here it is in plain numbers. Say your 2-bedroom payment standard is $1,131 and you find a unit at $1,050. The agency covers the gap between $1,050 and your 30% share. Find a unit at $1,400 instead, and you owe the $269 over the standard on top of your income-based share, subject to the agency's affordability limit at move-in (you generally can't take a unit where your total share exceeds 40% of your adjusted monthly income).

How does the Section 8 application process work in St. Louis?

When SLHA or SLCHA opens a waitlist, the process runs roughly like this:

1. Complete the online pre-application during the open window. Both agencies have used online portals. Paper may be available for people without internet access, but online is the norm. 2. Save your confirmation number. You'll need it to check your position. 3. Update your contact info every time you move or change your phone number. Agencies drop applicants they can't reach. 4. Wait. Based on SLHA's published data, wait times have run 3 to 7 years in recent cycles. ^[1] 5. When your name reaches the top, you get a notice to file a full application: income verification, household composition, and a background check. 6. Once approved, you get a voucher with a search period, usually 60 to 120 days, to find a qualifying unit.

Preferences move you up the list. SLHA gives preference to people experiencing homelessness, households displaced by government action, and current public housing residents. SLCHA runs its own categories. Each agency's administrative plan spells out the current structure. ^[3]

For the full arc from application to move-in, see our overview of what Section 8 is and how the program works.

What HQS inspection requirements apply to St. Louis Section 8 rentals?

Before any St. Louis Section 8 lease starts, the unit has to pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection run by the housing authority. HQS is a federal standard set under 24 CFR Part 982, Subpart I. ^[5] The inspector works through 13 performance areas, including sanitary facilities, food preparation, space and security, the thermal environment, lighting, structure and materials, interior air quality, water supply, lead-based paint, access, the site and neighborhood, sanitary conditions, and smoke detectors.

The usual reasons St. Louis units flunk the first pass:

• Missing or dead smoke detectors (by far the most common)
• Water heaters without a pressure relief valve
• Windows that won't lock or won't open
• Signs of pests
• Missing stair handrails
• Exposed wiring

Fail, and the landlord typically gets 30 days to fix the problems and ask for a re-inspection. The tenancy can't start until the unit passes. A landlord who wants to skip the delay should walk the HQS checklist themselves before booking the inspection. HUD posts the full checklist at HUD.gov. ^[2]

Inspections come back every year after the first one. A unit that passed last year can fail this year if things slide. The housing authority can suspend payments when a landlord ignores a notice to fix deficiencies.

How does Section 8 porting work from St. Louis to another city or state?

Portability is one of the strongest features of the program and one of the most misread. Under 24 CFR 982.353, a voucher holder who's lived in their initial unit for at least 12 months (or sometimes right away, if they're returning to a home jurisdiction) can move the voucher to any jurisdiction with a participating housing authority in the country. ^[5]

Here's the flow. You tell your current authority (SLHA or SLCHA) that you want to port. They issue a portability packet and send it to the receiving authority. That receiving PHA either absorbs your voucher into its own program or administers it and bills St. Louis for the cost.

Florida is a common landing spot for St. Louis voucher holders. If you're eyeing the Port St. Lucie area, know that the Port St. Lucie Housing Authority (often searched as port st lucie section 8 or port st lucie housing authority section 8 waiting list) runs its own waitlist and payment standards. Section 8 housing in Port St. Lucie FL sits in a different FMR area, so your subsidy recalculates under Florida numbers once you arrive. Same story with section 8 housing in Port Charlotte FL, administered through the Charlotte County Housing Authority (section 8 Port Charlotte FL), which operates on its own. Section 8 housing Port Charlotte follows Charlotte County's payment standards and inspection calendar.

Budget an extra 30 to 60 days for the paperwork to travel between the two agencies. Keep the receiving agency's phone number in your pocket and call to check on the file. Vouchers get lost in the gap between two bureaucracies when nobody's pushing.

For a full walk through porting, see our article on the housing choice voucher program.

How can landlords list a property for Section 8 in St. Louis?

St. Louis landlords don't apply to "get listed." You respond to voucher holders who approach you. The practical steps:

1. Decide you'll accept vouchers. Missouri has no statewide source-of-income protection law as of mid-2025, so landlords in most St. Louis suburbs can legally turn a voucher down. The City of St. Louis passed a source-of-income anti-discrimination ordinance in 2020, so inside city limits, refusing a qualified voucher holder just because they hold a voucher can be a Fair Housing violation. ^[7] 2. Set rent at or below what the local payment standard supports, or a reasonable amount above it (the tenant can cover the gap up to program limits). 3. Sign a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the housing authority once the tenant is approved and the unit passes inspection. 4. Know that the HAP payment comes straight to you from the authority, usually around the first of the month. The tenant's share comes separately. 5. Keep the unit at HQS standards all year, more than at inspection time.

The biggest landlord myth is that voucher tenants are higher risk. The research doesn't back that as a blanket claim. A 2018 Urban Institute pilot study on landlord acceptance found that voucher holders in tight markets often take good care of units, because losing a voucher is a heavy penalty. ^[8]

One tool worth naming: VoucherReady has a landlord kit with a HAP contract template, an HQS pre-inspection checklist, and a lease addendum guide. It saves a first-time voucher landlord a few hours of hunting for forms.

For what to know before you sign a HAP contract, see our guide to section 8 houses for rent.

What tenant rights apply to Section 8 renters in St. Louis?

Voucher holders in St. Louis have rights under both federal law and Missouri landlord-tenant law.

At the federal level, 24 CFR Part 982 governs the HAP contract and your relationship with the housing authority. The core protections:

• The housing authority has to give you written notice before ending your voucher, and you have the right to an informal hearing to fight the termination. ^[5]
• Landlords can't charge a Section 8 tenant more than a comparable market-rate tenant for the same unit. That's the rent reasonableness rule.
• The authority has to inspect on schedule. If they miss an annual inspection, your subsidy keeps running. You don't lose your home over the agency's paperwork.

At the state level, Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 441 covers landlord-tenant relations. What matters most for St. Louis renters:

• Landlords have to return your security deposit within 30 days of move-out, or hand you an itemized list of deductions. ^[9]
• Retaliation for reporting code violations is illegal.
• St. Louis City adds protections, including a right-to-counsel program for low-income tenants facing eviction, which applies whether or not you hold a voucher.

If you think your housing authority broke the rules, file a grievance with the agency first. If that stalls, file a complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD.gov. ^[2]

For a wider look at your options and protections, see our guide to rental assistance programs.

What other rental assistance programs exist in St. Louis beyond Section 8?

A closed voucher waitlist isn't the end of the road. Several parallel programs run in the St. Louis area.

Public housing: Both SLHA and SLCHA operate their own developments with separate applications and separate waitlists. These are agency-owned units, not private rentals, and their availability moves on a different clock. ^[1][3]

LIHTC housing: Low Income Housing Tax Credit buildings are privately owned but rent-restricted. Owners have to rent a set share of units to households at 50% or 60% AMI. The Missouri Housing Development Commission keeps a database of LIHTC properties. ^[10] No voucher required. See our overview of the low income housing tax credit program.

Emergency rental assistance: Missouri's ERA money came through COVID-19 relief, and most of it wound down through 2024. Local community action agencies and St. Louis City and County can still sometimes point households to one-time help. Dialing 2-1-1 (211 St. Louis) is your best first call.

Senior housing: HUD Section 202 housing and LIHTC senior communities serve households 62 and older. For that, see our guide on low income senior housing.

VoucherReady's free tenant tools include an eligibility screener that maps your household size and income to programs actually open in your zip code. It cuts down on dead-end phone calls.

For the full map of what's out there, see our rundown of low income housing programs.

How long does it take to find a unit after getting a St. Louis Section 8 voucher?

Once the voucher is in your hand, you get a search period, usually 60 to 120 days depending on SLHA or SLCHA's current policy. Both agencies can grant extensions if you're actively searching and can document it. Extensions aren't automatic. You have to ask.

St. Louis has a tighter rental market than it did ten years ago. Metro rental vacancy has hovered around 5 to 7% in recent years, below the historic local average. ^[11] Units that rent within the payment standards are scarcer still, because FMRs haven't kept pace with rent growth in the neighborhoods people actually want.

What works during the search:

• Start calling landlords before the voucher arrives, so you have leads ready on day one.
• Use HUD's resource locator at HUD.gov to find landlords who've taken vouchers before. ^[2]
• Lead with it. Saying "I have a Section 8 voucher" up front weeds out reluctant landlords fast and saves everyone the wasted visit.
• Aim at neighborhoods where rents already sit inside the payment standards: north St. Louis City, north county, and parts of south St. Louis City tend to have more voucher-accessible inventory than the west county suburbs.

If your search period runs out before you find a unit and you can't get an extension, you lose the voucher and drop to the bottom of the waitlist. That's a real risk. Treat the clock as your problem from day one.

Frequently asked questions

Is the St. Louis Housing Authority Section 8 waitlist open in 2025?

No. As of mid-2025, both the St. Louis Housing Authority (city) and St. Louis County Housing Authority (county) waitlists are closed. Neither has announced a reopening date. Sign up for email alerts on each agency's website and check back every few months. When a list opens, it usually accepts applications for a short window before closing again.

How do I apply for Section 8 in St. Louis City versus St. Louis County?

The City of St. Louis, an independent city inside no county, is served by the St. Louis Housing Authority at stlouisha.org. St. Louis County municipalities are served by the St. Louis County Housing Authority at slcha.org. Apply to both when they open. The agencies are separate, so approval by one doesn't affect your place on the other's list.

What are the current Section 8 payment standards in the St. Louis area?

HUD's FY 2024 Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis metro run from $795 (efficiency) to $1,755 (4-bedroom). Housing authorities usually set payment standards within 90 to 110% of those figures. For a 3-bedroom, expect a standard somewhere around $1,350 to $1,650 depending on which agency runs your voucher.

Can I use a St. Louis Section 8 voucher to rent in another city or state?

Yes. After 12 months in your initial unit, you can port your voucher to any city with a participating housing authority, including areas like Port St. Lucie or Port Charlotte in Florida. Notify your St. Louis housing authority and they'll send a portability packet to the receiving agency. Budget 30 to 60 extra days for the paperwork between agencies.

What income limits apply to Section 8 in St. Louis for 2024?

To qualify, your household income has to be at or below 50% of the St. Louis Area Median Income. For FY 2024 that's $33,750 for one person and $48,100 for a family of four. By statute, at least 75% of newly issued vouchers must go to households at 30% AMI or below, roughly $28,860 for a family of four.

Do St. Louis landlords have to accept Section 8 vouchers?

In St. Louis City, a 2020 source-of-income ordinance makes it illegal to refuse a qualified tenant just because they hold a voucher. In most St. Louis County municipalities, no such protection exists and landlords can legally decline. Missouri has no statewide source-of-income anti-discrimination law as of 2025.

How long is the Section 8 waiting list in St. Louis?

When SLHA last opened its waitlist in 2022, it drew applications in the tens of thousands for a limited number of spots. Based on SLHA's own published data, average wait times for housed applicants have run 3 to 7 years. There's no precise current figure, since the list is closed and not moving at scale.

What happens at a St. Louis Section 8 HQS inspection?

A housing authority inspector visits the unit and checks 13 federal performance areas under 24 CFR 982, including smoke detectors, hot water, windows, sanitation, and structure. Common failures are missing smoke detectors, windows that won't lock, and pest evidence. If the unit fails, the landlord usually gets 30 days to fix the problems and request a re-inspection.

Can I port a Section 8 voucher from Port St. Lucie or Port Charlotte to St. Louis?

Yes, porting works both directions. If you hold a voucher from the Port St. Lucie Housing Authority or the Charlotte County Housing Authority (which covers Port Charlotte, FL) and you meet the 12-month residency requirement, you can request to port to St. Louis. Contact your current PHA first. They'll send the portability packet to SLHA or SLCHA.

What other low-income housing programs exist in St. Louis besides Section 8?

Options include SLHA and SLCHA public housing (separate waitlists from vouchers), Low Income Housing Tax Credit apartment communities (no voucher needed), HUD Section 202 senior housing, and emergency rental assistance through local community action agencies. Dial 2-1-1 in St. Louis to get routed to programs currently open for your situation.

How many days do I have to find an apartment once I get a St. Louis Section 8 voucher?

SLHA and SLCHA usually grant 60 to 120 days to find a qualifying unit. Extensions exist but aren't automatic. You have to request one and document your search. If the search period runs out with no approved unit and no extension, you lose the voucher and return to the bottom of the waitlist.

Does Section 8 in St. Louis cover utilities?

It depends on the lease. If the landlord pays all utilities, the full payment standard goes toward rent. If the tenant pays some or all utilities, the housing authority provides a utility allowance, a deduction that effectively raises the share of rent the agency covers. The allowance schedule varies by unit size and utility type and is published by each PHA.

What is the Section 8 program in Port St. Lucie and how does it compare to St. Louis?

Section 8 housing in Port St. Lucie FL is run by the Port St. Lucie Housing Authority. Like St. Louis, the Port St. Lucie housing authority section 8 waiting list has historically been closed or very limited. Payment standards differ because Florida and Missouri sit in separate FMR areas. The core federal rules under 24 CFR 982 are the same in both states.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD.gov main portal: HUD oversees Section 8 HCV program nationally; field offices handle complaints; resource locator for landlords
2. St. Louis County Housing Authority, official website: SLCHA administers the Section 8 HCV program for St. Louis County; waitlist status and preference categories
3. HUD, FY 2024 Income Limits Documentation System: FY 2024 Very Low Income and Low Income limits for the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area by household size
4. Code of Federal Regulations, 24 CFR Part 982, Housing Choice Voucher Program: Governs eligibility (50% AMI), 75% targeting requirement, portability (Section 982.353), HQS inspections (Subpart I), and HAP contract requirements
5. HUD, FY 2024 Fair Market Rents Documentation System: FY 2024 Fair Market Rents for the St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area by bedroom size
6. City of St. Louis, official municipal website: City of St. Louis 2020 source-of-income anti-discrimination ordinance covering Housing Choice Voucher holders
7. Urban Institute, 'A Pilot Study of Landlord Acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers' (2018): Research on landlord perceptions of voucher tenants; voucher holders in tight markets often maintain units carefully due to voucher loss risk
8. Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 441, Landlord-Tenant Actions: Missouri law requires security deposit return within 30 days of move-out with itemized deductions; prohibits retaliation for code reporting
9. Missouri Housing Development Commission, LIHTC property listings: MHDC administers Low Income Housing Tax Credit program in Missouri and maintains a database of LIHTC-funded rental properties
10. U.S. Census Bureau, Housing Vacancies and Homeownership (CPS/HVS): St. Louis metro rental vacancy rates in recent years; basis for 5-7% vacancy range cited
11. HUD, 'Worst Case Housing Needs: 2023 Report to Congress': Approximately 1.3 million households hold Housing Choice Vouchers nationally; estimated 2.6 million additional eligible households on waitlists or turned away