Your complete resource for understanding the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program — eligibility, applications, finding approved apartments, and tracking waitlists nationwide.
North Dakota residents searching for rental assistance often encounter a patchwork of programs operating at the federal, state, and local level. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the largest federally funded rental assistance program available to low-income households in the state — but understanding how it works, who administers it, and what shapes individual outcomes requires looking at how the program functions both nationally and within North Dakota's specific housing landscape.
The Housing Choice Voucher program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered locally by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). In North Dakota, multiple PHAs operate across the state — including agencies in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and smaller communities — each with its own waitlist, payment standards, and administrative procedures.
When a household receives a voucher, it doesn't pay rent directly to the PHA. Instead, the PHA pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord through a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract. The tenant pays the difference between that subsidy and the actual rent — generally calculated so the tenant contributes approximately 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities, though the exact share depends on the local payment standard and actual lease terms.
Eligibility for Section 8 in North Dakota is based on several factors:
| Factor | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Income | Household income must fall below limits set relative to the Area Median Income (AMI) for the local area — typically 50% AMI or below, with priority often given to households at or below 30% AMI |
| Household composition | Family size affects which income limits apply and what voucher size (bedroom size) a household may qualify for |
| Citizenship/immigration status | At least one household member must meet HUD's citizenship or eligible immigration status requirements |
| Criminal background | PHAs may deny applicants based on certain criminal history, though rules vary by agency |
| Rental history | Prior evictions or debts owed to PHAs can result in denial |
Income limits are not uniform across North Dakota. A household's income limit in the Fargo metro area will differ from limits applied in rural counties, because AMI figures are calculated by geography. Each PHA publishes its current limits, and those figures are updated annually by HUD.
Most PHAs in North Dakota operate closed waitlists for extended periods due to high demand relative to available vouchers. When a PHA opens its waitlist, it may use a first-come-first-served system or a lottery to determine placement. Some PHAs assign preference categories that move certain households higher on the list — common preferences include:
Not every PHA uses the same preference categories, and some use none at all. Wait times in North Dakota can range from several months to several years depending on local demand, available funding, and voucher turnover. A household placed on a waitlist in one North Dakota PHA's jurisdiction cannot automatically transfer that position to another PHA.
Once issued a voucher, the household has a limited time — called the voucher term — to find an eligible rental unit and have it approved. That window varies by PHA but is often 60 to 120 days, with possible extensions.
The unit must:
Landlord participation is voluntary in North Dakota. A landlord who agrees to participate signs a HAP contract with the PHA, which governs payment terms, inspection schedules, and tenant protections. 🏠
Tenant-based vouchers move with the household — if the tenant leaves the unit, they retain the voucher and can use it elsewhere. Project-based vouchers (PBVs) are attached to a specific unit or development. A household living in a project-based unit may not take that subsidy with them when they move, though they may be eligible for a tenant-based voucher after meeting certain requirements.
If a household has had a tenant-based voucher for at least 12 months (or was a resident of the initial PHA's jurisdiction when they applied), they may be eligible to port their voucher to another PHA — within North Dakota or to another state. The initial PHA (the one that issued the voucher) coordinates with the receiving PHA (the one administering the voucher in the new location). Each PHA's policies affect how smoothly portability transfers proceed.
Households with active vouchers must complete annual recertifications, during which the PHA reviews income, household composition, and continued eligibility. If income rises, the household's share of rent typically increases. If income falls, the subsidy may increase. Households are also generally required to report interim changes — such as a new household member or a significant income change — between annual reviews. Failure to report changes accurately can result in overpayment claims or termination.
A PHA may deny an applicant at the eligibility stage or terminate an existing voucher holder for reasons such as:
In both cases, the household generally has the right to request an informal hearing to contest the decision. The procedures and timelines for those hearings are set by each PHA in accordance with HUD regulations.
North Dakota's rental assistance landscape varies considerably between urban PHAs — where housing markets are tighter and wait times are longer — and rural PHAs, where unit availability and landlord participation introduce their own constraints. The specific income limits, payment standards, preference categories, inspection timelines, and administrative policies that apply to any given household depend entirely on which PHA has jurisdiction over their area and what that PHA's current program rules are.
Those variables — the local PHA, household income and composition, and program rules at the time of application — are what determine how the program actually works for any specific household.
Select your state to view local waitlists, PHAs, and application information.