For FY 2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 70609 (Louisiana, LA) is $1,340 a month. That is unchanged from FY 2026. Louisiana is in the Lake Charles, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. HUD also publishes the ZIP-level Small Area FMRs shown here, but unless the local housing authority has adopted them, vouchers are based on the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,231. Among 22 ZIP codes in Calcasieu Parish, 70609 has the 4th-highest two-bedroom rent (county range $1,100–$1,480). The median county two-bedroom FMR in Louisiana is $995, so ZIP 70609 is 35% above it.
FY 2027 rent by bedroom
FY 2027 fair market rent by bedroom for 70609
Bedrooms
FY 2026
FY 2027
Change
90–110% range
Studio
$1,010
$1,010
0.0%
$909–$1,111
1BR
$1,020
$1,020
0.0%
$918–$1,122
2BR
$1,340
$1,340
0.0%
$1,206–$1,474
3BR
$1,600
$1,590
−0.6%
$1,431–$1,749
4BR
$1,770
$1,860
+5.1%
$1,674–$2,046
Fair market rent history, FY 2023–2027
Fair market rent by fiscal year for 70609
Fiscal year
Studio
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
FY 2027
$1,010
$1,020
$1,340
$1,590
$1,860
FY 2026
$1,010
$1,020
$1,340
$1,600
$1,770
FY 2025
$970
$980
$1,270
$1,540
$1,690
FY 2024
$840
$840
$1,080
$1,330
$1,440
FY 2023area FMR
$756
$767
$983
$1,235
$1,322
Marked years use a different HUD benchmark than FY 2027, so they are not a like-for-like change.
Two-bedroom rent in nearby Calcasieu Parish ZIP codes
How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in ZIP 70609?
Housing authorities set voucher payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR. With the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,231, which applies unless the housing authority uses Small Area FMRs, that basic range is $1,108 to $1,354 a month; under the ZIP-level Small Area FMR of $1,340 it would be $1,206 to $1,474. The voucher pays the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent, minus the tenant's share, which is usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the local housing authority's current schedule before underwriting.
Which HUD fair market rent area is ZIP 70609 in?
ZIP 70609 is in the Lake Charles, LA HUD Metro FMR Area. Small Area FMRs are optional here; the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR is $1,231.
How much did fair market rent change in ZIP 70609 for FY 2027?
The two-bedroom FMR was unchanged at $1,340 in FY 2027. Since FY 2024 it has risen 24.1%.
When do FY 2027 fair market rents take effect?
HUD's FY 2027 fair market rents took effect on October 1, 2026. When FMRs change, housing authorities generally have up to three months to bring payment standards back within 90% to 110% of the new FMR.
Source: HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents and area FMRs. Payment-standard ranges are 90% to 110% of FMR, HUD's basic range, not a housing authority's published schedule. How payment standards are set