Are there still higher payment standards in some ZIP codes?

Not at NYCHA. Exception Payment Standard ZIP codes were discontinued on July 1, 2026; the same standards now apply citywide for new rentals and transfers.

Voucher programs · Section 8 (NYCHA)

NYCHA Section 8 voucher payment standards, 2026

NYCHA’s Housing Choice Voucher payment standards effective 01/01/2026: new rentals and transfers, and annual recertifications, by bedroom size. From NYCHA’s published schedule.

Tenant placement with Section 8 (NYCHA)Landlords: send a vacancy

Payment standards

Effective 01/01/2026 · NYCHA Voucher Payment Standards, effective 01/01/2026 · checked against the agency’s page 11/02/2026

Bedrooms	New rentals and transfers	Annual recertifications
0 (studio)	$2,604	$2,646
1	$2,734	$2,762
2	$2,997	$3,058
3	$3,753	$3,811
4	$4,077	$4,111
5	$4,689	$4,728
6	$5,301	$5,345
7	$5,913	$5,962
8	$6,524	$6,579

HPD and HCR run their own Section 8 programs in the city with their own schedules; these figures are NYCHA’s. Utility allowances are subtracted when the tenant pays utilities.

Source: NYCHA, Voucher Payment Standards and Utility Allowance Schedules.

How the standard is applied

The payment standard is the maximum subsidy NYCHA will pay the owner on the tenant’s behalf. New rentals and transfers use the first column; families at their annual recertification use the second. Rent reasonableness still applies: the rent must be in line with comparable unassisted units.

What changed in 2026

Since 07/01/2026, NYCHA no longer uses Exception Payment Standard (EPS) ZIP codes. The standard figures above apply in every ZIP code for new rentals and transfers, for the regular Housing Choice Voucher and for special-purpose vouchers (VASH, Non-Elderly Disabled, FUP, Stability and others).
NYCHA sets each standard between 90% and 110% of HUD’s Fair Market Rent for the unit size.

NYCHA 2026 utility allowances (subtracted when the tenant pays the utility)

Tenant pays	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR	5+ BR
Cooking gas + electric (no electric stove)	$125	$141	$181	$221	$261	$301
Oil heat + hot water	$119	$139	$169	$199	$229	$258
Gas heat + hot water	$95	$112	$138	$159	$183	$206
Electric heat + hot water	$89	$106	$138	$171	$203	$237
Electric, with electric cooking range	$111	$126	$167	$209	$251	$293
Heat pump	$31	$37	$40	$47	$55	$65

Effective 01/01/2026. Oil splits into $47 hot water and $122 heat for a 2-bedroom; gas into $38 and $100; electric into $56 and $82. The electric heat allowance does not cover cooking, lighting or appliances.

Example: a 2-bedroom where the tenant pays cooking gas + electric has a maximum rent of $2,816 in 2026 ($2,997 standard minus the $181 allowance).

Questions

For a new NYCHA voucher rental or transfer, $2,997 a month; at an annual recertification, $3,058. Both took effect 01/01/2026.

Studio: $2,604 for new rentals ($2,646 at recertification). 1-bedroom: $2,734 ($2,762 at recertification).

The payment standard is compared with the gross rent: the contract rent plus the allowance for any utility the tenant pays. A 2-bedroom where the tenant pays gas heat and hot water ($138) fits the $2,997 standard at a contract rent up to $2,859; above that, the tenant pays the difference (within the 40% limit at move-in).

Not at NYCHA. Exception Payment Standard ZIP codes were discontinued on 07/01/2026; the same standards now apply citywide for new rentals and transfers.

NYCHA publishes the schedule on its Voucher Payment Standards and Utility Allowance Schedules page (linked above as the source). HPD and HCR publish their own Section 8 schedules separately.

The tenant generally pays 30% of adjusted income, plus any amount by which the gross rent exceeds the payment standard. At the first lease, the family’s share cannot exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income, and the rent must also pass NYCHA’s rent reasonableness test.

Other programs

CityFHEPS HASA FHEPS Section 8 by neighborhood