Renting · Section 8
Data from November 2026
Renting in Hardee County, Florida
Hardee County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,124 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $962 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $21.62 an hour, full time.
Four numbers to start with
- Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
- $1,124
- a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
- 43% less than in Florida
- Typical rent
- $962
- a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
- 42% less than in Florida
- Wage needed
- $21.62
- an hour, 2 bedrooms
- Or $44,960 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
- Rent-burdened households
- 50%
- spend 30% or more of income on rent
- 17% less than in Florida
Fair market rent
What HUD sets for each size
Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Hardee County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.
The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)
| Size | Fair rent per month | Hourly wage | Income needed per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $953 | $18.33 | $38,120 |
| 1 bedroom | $958 | $18.42 | $38,320 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,124 | $21.62 | $44,960 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,522 | $29.27 | $60,880 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,885 | $36.25 | $75,400 |
HUD area: Hardee County, FL. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
The fair market rent for your ZIP code
HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 6 ZIP codes in Hardee County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.
For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,130 in 33873 to $1,350 in 33834. 6 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($1,124).
Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)
| 33834 | Hardee County, FL | $1,110 | $1,110 | $1,350 | $1,830 | $2,260 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33834 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $1,110 | $1,110 | $1,350 | $1,830 | $2,260 |
| 33865 | DeSoto County, FL | $1,120 | $1,160 | $1,310 | $1,730 | $2,130 |
| 33865 | Hardee County, FL | $1,120 | $1,160 | $1,310 | $1,730 | $2,130 |
| 33873 | Hardee County, FL | $990 | $1,000 | $1,130 | $1,530 | $1,890 |
| 33890 | Hardee County, FL | $980 | $990 | $1,130 | $1,530 | $1,890 |
- 33834 · Hardee County, FL $1,350$1,830
- 33834 · Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $1,350$1,830
- 33865 · DeSoto County, FL $1,310$1,730
- 33865 · Hardee County, FL $1,310$1,730
- 33873 · Hardee County, FL $1,130$1,530
- 33890 · Hardee County, FL $1,130$1,530
Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Hardee County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in Florida, 60%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
50%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
2,351 households rent in Hardee County
- Spend half or more of their income 33%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 17%
- Spend less than 30% 50%
Compared with the state and the country
- Hardee 50%
- Florida 60%
- United States 51%
Low-income apartments
Low-income apartments in Hardee County
HUD lists 6 properties with homes for low-income households in Hardee County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC) and HUD-assisted buildings. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.
- with tax credits (LIHTC)
- 4
- HUD-assisted
- 2
378 homes in all; 378 of them low-income, according to HUD.
- Valencia Garden Tax credit (LIHTC) 635 S 5th Ave, Wauchula 33873 104 low-income homes · 2 bd: 44 · 3 bd: 60 · In service since 2007 · For families
- Chatham Pointe Senior Tax credit (LIHTC) 338 Stenstrom Rd, Wauchula 33873 67 low-income homes · 1 bd: 56 · 2 bd: 11 · In service since 2011 · For older adults
- Country Walk-Wauchula Tax credit (LIHTC) 252 Maxwell Dr, Wauchula 33873 64 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2007 · For families
- Wauchula Gardens HUD-assisted 1020 Makowski Rd, Wauchula 33873 55 low-income homes · For families
- River Chase Tax credit (LIHTC) 309 Rust Ave, Wauchula 33873 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 27 · In service since 1992 · For families
- Azalea Apartments HUD-assisted 860 Pleasant Way, Bowling Green 33834 40 low-income homes · For families · (863) 375-4138
Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.
Section 8
The Section 8 voucher in Hardee County
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. A public housing agency runs it. HUD lists none with an office in Hardee County; the state's agencies can help you. Here is what the rules say:
The rules, with their source
-
You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. Source: HUD
-
Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). Source: 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)
-
Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). Source: 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)
-
If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. Source: 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)
-
When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. Source: 24 CFR §982.508
-
Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. Source: 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)
| People | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $16,450 | $27,400 | $43,850 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $31,350 | $50,100 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $35,250 | $56,350 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $39,150 | $62,600 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $42,250 | $67,650 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $45,400 | $72,650 |
| 7 people | $48,550 | $48,550 | $77,650 |
| 8 people | $51,700 | $51,700 | $82,650 |
Area median income: $71,300. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Hardee County, FL. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026
Possible payment standard
- Studio $858 – $1,048
- 1 bedroom $862 – $1,054
- 2 bedrooms $1,012 – $1,236
- 3 bedrooms $1,370 – $1,674
- 4 bedrooms $1,697 – $2,074
The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.
Housing agencies that serve this place
HUD lists no housing agency with an office in Hardee County. You can apply at another agency in your state: you do not have to live where you apply. Source: HUD
Your rights as a tenant in Florida
What Florida law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleCompare these rules with other states →
A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- When must they return my deposit?
- 15 days
- Fla. Stat. §83.49(3)(a)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 3 days
- Fla. Stat. §83.56(3)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 30 days
- Fla. Stat. §83.57(3)
- Only a court order can remove youFla. Stat. §83.67(2)
- Protection from retaliationFla. Stat. §83.64
Help
Where to get help with rent in Hardee County
These are the nearest HUD-approved agencies. They counsel for free or at low cost.
-
Florida Non-Profit Housing Inc
3909 Kenilworth Blvd, Sebring · 24 miles away · Spanish
- Mortgage delinquency and default
- Budget and credit workshops
- and 5 more
-
Housing and Neighborhood Development Services of Central Florida, Inc.
825 E Main St, Lakeland · 39 miles away · Spanish
- Mortgage delinquency and default
- Mortgage delinquency workshops
- and 9 more
-
Step Up Suncoast, Inc. F/K/A Manatee Community Action Agency, Inc.
6428 Parkland Dr, Sarasota · 44 miles away · Spanish
- Budget and financial counseling
- Budget and credit workshops
- and 4 more
Rental assistance programs
The ones that serve in Hardee County or the whole state, with what each page says about being open.
-
Florida Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Run by FloridaCommerce
Help from the federal LIHEAP program in Florida that pays the electric or gas company directly, including past-due bills and reconnection
Tool
How much cash do you need to move in?
It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Hardee County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.
Count power on top of the rent: in Florida, the average home bill was $156 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs
Your move
We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.
Adjust advanced details
Let's do the math
Cash to move in
$2,248
What you need before you get the keys.
What adds up
- First month
- $1,124
- Security deposit
- $1,124
- Total
- $2,248
When you'll have it
Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.
What helps
- Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
- On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
- Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fair market rent in Hardee County?
According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $953; 1 bedroom: $958; 2 bedrooms: $1,124; 3 bedrooms: $1,522; 4 bedrooms: $1,885. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.
How much do you need to earn to rent in Hardee County?
Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,124) without spending more than 30% of income takes $21.62 an hour full time, or $44,960 a year.
Who qualifies for Section 8 in Hardee County?
Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $39,150 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.
How much does Section 8 pay in Hardee County?
The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $1,012 and $1,236 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.
Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Hardee County?
For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,130 in 33873 to $1,350 in 33834. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.
How many low-income apartments are there in Hardee County?
HUD lists 6 properties with homes for low-income households in Hardee County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC) and HUD-assisted buildings. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.
How many households spend too much on rent in Hardee County?
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Hardee County, 50% of renter households are in that position; in Florida, 60%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).