How do I apply for Section 8 in North Carolina?

Apply to the local public housing agency that serves the area where you want to live. Each agency runs its own waiting list; check its official site to see whether the list is open.

Section 8 in North Carolina: Housing Authorities and How to Apply

Section 8 (the Housing Choice Voucher program) is run by local public housing agencies (PHAs). You apply to the agency that serves where you want to live; many keep waiting lists that open only at times. Here are the agencies serving North Carolina's largest areas, from HUD's official contact list and each agency's site.

Is it illegal for a North Carolina landlord to refuse Section 8? No statewide protection. Since 2024 state law also bars counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances that stop landlords from refusing tenants whose rent includes federal housing assistance (for example Section 8 vouchers). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1(b) (S.L. 2024-47, s. 7)

Housing authorities in North Carolina

INLIVIAN (formerly Charlotte Housing Authority) — Charlotte, Mecklenburg County
Housing Choice Voucher, Agency-owned apartments
Phone: (704) 336-5183
How to apply / waiting list — Housing Choice Voucher waitlist closed (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site)
Raleigh Housing Authority — Raleigh, Wake County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher
Phone: (919) 831-8300
How to apply / waiting list — Public housing waiting lists closed since June 6, 2025 (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site); voucher list status not stated
Wake County Housing Authority (Housing Authority of the County of Wake) — Zebulon, Wake County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, HUD-VASH
Phone: 919.269.6404
Durham Housing Authority — Durham, Durham County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher
Phone: 919.683.1551
How to apply / waiting list
Greensboro Housing Authority — Greensboro, Guilford County
Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, Agency-owned communities, Continuum of Care supportive housing
Phone: 336-275-8501
How to apply / waiting list — Project-Based Voucher waiting list open (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site); other lists not stated
High Point Housing Authority (Housing Authority of the City of High Point) — High Point, Guilford County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher
Phone: (336) 887-2661
Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem — Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
Phone: (336) 917-6119
Housing Authority of the City of Asheville — Asheville, Buncombe County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher
Phone: (828) 258-1222
How to apply / waiting list — open — Public Housing and HCV tenant-based voucher waitlist accepting online applications (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site)
Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority — Fayetteville, Cumberland County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher
Phone: 910-483-3648
Gastonia Housing Authority — Gastonia, Gaston County
Housing Choice Voucher, HUD-assisted housing
Phone: 704-864-6771 (automated line); applications 704-349-5149
How to apply / waiting list — open — all waiting lists accepting applications (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site)
Wilmington Housing Authority — Wilmington, New Hanover County
Housing Choice Voucher, Agency-owned communities
Phone: (910) 341-7700
How to apply / waiting list — Housing Choice Voucher waiting list closed, no reopening date set (as of 2026-10-24 per PHA site)
Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency, Inc. — Jacksonville, Onslow County
Housing Choice Voucher
Phone: (910) 347-2151
How to apply / waiting list
Housing Authority of the City of Greenville — Greenville, Pitt County
Housing Choice Voucher
Phone: 252.329.4000
Mid-East Regional Housing Authority — Greenville, Pitt County, Beaufort County, Bertie County, Hyde County, Martin County, Tyrrell County, Washington County
Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Voucher, Mainstream Voucher
Phone: (252) 752-9548
North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs (state agency voucher program) — Raleigh, Columbus County, Granville County, Halifax County, Person County, Sampson County, Warren County
Housing Choice Voucher, HUD-VASH, Mainstream Voucher, Emergency Housing Voucher
Phone: 984-236-0160, ext. 1
How to apply / waiting list

Source: HUD public housing agency contact list. Check the agency's own site before applying; waiting lists open and close.

Statewide housing agency

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) — Finances affordable rental housing and points renters to NC Housing Search and local housing authorities; it does not hand out Housing Choice Vouchers and warns of scams claiming otherwise.

Help paying rent in North Carolina

NCHFA: Find Rent Assistance — Explains how to apply for Housing Choice Vouchers through local housing authorities and the state's Transitions to Community Living Voucher for people with behavioral health disabilities
NCHFA: Search Rental Housing (NC Housing Search) — Free statewide search for rental homes and apartments, including affordable units

How to apply

Find the housing authority for the city or county where you want to live (list above).
Check whether its voucher waiting list is open; many open for short windows or use a lottery.
Apply only through the agency's official site or office. Applying is free — no one may charge you to get on a list.
Keep your contact information current with the agency so you do not lose your place.
When a voucher is issued, you find a rental whose rent fits the agency's payment standard and that passes inspection.

Rent levels (HUD Fair Market Rent) and local help by county

North Carolina tenant rights · Free legal help in North Carolina · Section 8 in other states

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.