Question 1

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in California?

Accepted Answer

No, not in most cases. In California, a landlord may not discriminate against anyone because of source of income, which the law defines to include federal, state and local housing subsidies, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and HUD-VASH vouchers. A landlord may still ask about the level or source of an applicant’s income. This is Cal. Gov. Code § 12955.

Question 2

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Texas has no statewide law requiring landlords to accept housing vouchers, and its cities and counties cannot require it either: a city or county may not adopt or enforce an ordinance that prohibits a landlord from refusing to rent to a person because the person’s lawful source of income to pay rent includes funding from a federal housing assistance program. A local law protecting veterans is not affected, and since September 1, 2023 a property owners’ association may not stop an owner from renting to a tenant because the rent is paid with a housing choice voucher. Federal law leaves the voucher program voluntary for most landlords, but a property financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits may not refuse a tenant because they hold a voucher. This is Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code § 250.007; Tex. Prop. Code § 202.024.

Question 3

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Florida has no statewide law requiring landlords to accept housing vouchers, and its cities and counties cannot require it either: the regulation of residential tenancies, including the screening process a landlord uses to approve tenants, is preempted to the state, and the statute supersedes any local regulation of those matters. Federal law leaves the voucher program voluntary for most landlords, but a property financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits may not refuse a tenant because they hold a voucher. This is Fla. Stat. § 83.425.

Question 4

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in New York?

Accepted Answer

No, not in most cases. In New York, a landlord may not refuse to rent to anyone, or set different terms, because of lawful source of income, which the law defines to include Section 8 vouchers and any other housing assistance, whether or not it is paid directly to the landlord. This is N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 292, 296.

Question 5

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Illinois?

Accepted Answer

No, not in most cases. In Illinois, it is a civil rights violation to refuse to rent to a person, or set different terms, because of source of income, meaning the lawful manner in which a person supports themselves. The Illinois Department of Human Rights lists Housing Choice Vouchers among the protected sources of income. This is 775 ILCS 5/1-103, 5/3-102.

Question 6

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Yes. North Carolina has no statewide law requiring landlords to accept housing vouchers, and its cities and counties cannot require it either: no county or city may enact, maintain or enforce an ordinance that prohibits a landlord from refusing to rent to a person because the person’s lawful source of income to pay rent includes funding from a federal housing assistance program. Federal law leaves the voucher program voluntary for most landlords, but a property financed with Low-Income Housing Tax Credits may not refuse a tenant because they hold a voucher. This is N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1(b).

Question 7

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

No, not in most cases. In Michigan, a landlord may not deny a tenancy, set different terms, or claim a unit is unavailable, based on the source of income of an otherwise eligible tenant. The law took effect on April 2, 2025, and does not apply to a landlord who, with related entities, owns fewer than 5 rental units in Michigan. This is MCL 554.601c.

Question 8

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in New Jersey?

Accepted Answer

No, not in most cases. In New Jersey, a landlord may not refuse to rent to anyone, or set different terms, because of the source of any lawful income the person receives or the source of any lawful rent payment for the property. This is N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(g).

State	Housing vouchers	Source
California	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	Cal. Gov. Code § 12955
Colorado	Protected, except some owners of five or fewer homes	C.R.S. § 24-34-502
Connecticut	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46a-63, 46a-64c
Delaware	Source of income protected, but voucher participation optional	6 Del. C. §§ 4602, 4603
District of Columbia	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	D.C. Code §§ 2-1401.02, 2-1402.21
Florida	Not protected; local protections preempted	Fla. Stat. § 83.425
Hawaii	Protected, except owners of four or fewer units	Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 368F-2, 368F-3
Idaho	Not protected; local protections barred	Idaho Code § 55-306
Illinois	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	775 ILCS 5/1-103, 5/3-102
Indiana	Not protected; local protections barred	Ind. Code § 36-1-3-8.5
Iowa	Not protected; local protections barred	Iowa Code §§ 364.3(16), 331.304(13)
Kentucky	Not protected; local protections barred	KRS 65.874
Maine	Limited by a 2014 court decision	5 M.R.S. § 4581-A
Maryland	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	Md. Code, State Gov’t §§ 20-701, 20-705
Massachusetts	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	M.G.L. c. 151B, § 4
Michigan	Protected, for landlords with 5 or more units	MCL 554.601c
Minnesota	Limited by a 2010 court decision	Minn. Stat. § 363A.09
Missouri	Not protected; local protections barred	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.043
New Jersey	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	N.J.S.A. 10:5-12(g)
New York	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 292, 296
North Carolina	Not protected; local protections barred	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1(b)
North Dakota	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	N.D. Cent. Code §§ 14-02.4-02, 14-02.5-02
Oregon	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	ORS 659A.421
Rhode Island	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 34-37-3, 34-37-4
Texas	Not protected; local protections barred	Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code § 250.007; Tex. Prop. Code § 202.024
Utah	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	Utah Code §§ 57-21-2, 57-21-5
Vermont	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	9 V.S.A. §§ 4501, 4503
Virginia	Protected, except owners of four or fewer units	Va. Code §§ 36-96.2, 36-96.3
Washington	Protected: a landlord may not refuse one	RCW 59.18.255
Wisconsin	Does not cover Section 8 vouchers	Wis. Stat. § 106.50

Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher?

Housing vouchers, state by state

The answer in full, for the biggest rental markets