The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers across Franklin County. Within Columbus city limits, source-of-income protection under CCC Chapter 2331 means landlords cannot refuse voucher holders.
CMHA is the public housing authority serving Columbus and Franklin County, administering federal Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), project-based vouchers, and emergency housing vouchers. Voucher holders pay roughly 30 percent of income toward rent, and CMHA pays the balance up to a Fair Market Rent ceiling. Inside Columbus city limits, CCC Chapter 2331 (as amended by Ord. 1730-2018) makes refusal to rent to a voucher holder a fair-housing violation enforced by the Community Relations Commission. CMHA inspects units for HUD Housing Quality Standards before leasing. Landlords sign a HAP contract with CMHA and a separate lease with the tenant.
Refusing a voucher inside Columbus is a Chapter 2331 violation with civil penalties up to $10,000 first offense. CMHA may also debar landlords with repeated HQS failures from the program.
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See how Columbus's section 8 voucher acceptance rules stack up against other locations.
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