Arizona Section 8 Rules: Tucson and Phoenix Ban Voucher Refusals

By Steve Levine · Updated November 3, 2026

Short answer: Arizona Section 8 rules depend on your city. State fair housing law, A.R.S. § 41-1491.14, covers race, color, religion, sex, familial status and national origin but not source of income, while Tucson and Phoenix have local ordinances that make “no Section 8” refusals unlawful inside city limits.

The other Arizona reality is supply. Tucson’s housing department closed its voucher waitlist on January 1, 2026, with more than 40,000 people waiting, and Maricopa County’s authority announced it would close its open property waitlists on December 1, 2026. Knowing where lists open, and how fast, matters more here than in many states.

Arizona Section 8 rules at a glance

Rule	Arizona	Source
Statewide source-of-income protection	No	A.R.S. § 41-1491.14
Tucson	Ordinance #11959: unlawful to reject an application solely based on source of income, including HCV	City of Tucson OEOP
Phoenix	Source of income protected under City Code Ch. 18, Art. III; complaints within 1 year	Phoenix EOD
Nonpayment notice	5 days to pay after written notice	A.R.S. § 33-1368(B)
Federal eviction limit	Court action and listed grounds required	24 CFR 982.310

Source-of-income law in Arizona: a city-by-city map

State law stops short

Subsection A of § 41-1491.14 bars refusing to rent “because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status or national origin.” It says nothing about vouchers or other lawful income. Outside a city with its own ordinance, a landlord may decline a Housing Choice Voucher as long as the refusal is not a stand-in for one of those protected traits or disability.

Tucson

Tucson’s Office of Equal Opportunity Programs says ordinance #11959 amended the city’s Human Relations Ordinance to make it unlawful “to reject a housing application solely based on the applicant’s source of income.” Covered sources include the “Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8),” Rapid Rehousing and other federal, state or local assistance. The city’s source-of-income page notes that Attorney General Kristin Mayes reversed her predecessor’s move to block the ordinance, concluding it “does not violate state law or the Arizona Constitution.”

Phoenix

Phoenix’s Equal Opportunity Department lists source of income among protected categories under Chapter 18, Article III of the City Code. The coverage reaches rental housing and advertising, among other areas, and “Complaints must be filed within 1 year of the discriminatory incident.” If you rent in Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale or another suburb, check that city’s own code; the Phoenix rule stops at Phoenix’s boundary.

The housing authorities you will deal with

City of Phoenix Housing Department. It serves as the city’s public housing authority and manages “the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program,” per its department page. The HCV office is at 830 E. Jefferson St.; phone 602-534-1974.
Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC). Based in Peoria, HAMC provides housing vouchers and special programs. A public notice dated October 7, 2026 announced it would close all open property waitlists effective December 1, 2026; phone 602-744-4500.
City of Tucson Housing and Community Development. Its HCV program has about 6,000 vouchers for city and Pima County residents. In its closure announcement, the department estimated roughly 11 percent annual attrition, or about 660 vouchers a year.

Other cities and rural counties have their own agencies. HUD’s PHA directory lists every Arizona authority.

Waiting lists when they are closed

Tucson says existing applicants stay on its list but must report changes in contact information, household or income through its Applicant Portal, and that specialty vouchers such as HUD-VASH and Family Unification are still issued when capacity allows. Federal 24 CFR 982.206 requires a public notice in a local newspaper when a list reopens, so a closed list is not a permanent no. And under 24 CFR 982.205, being on Tucson’s list cannot cost you a spot on Phoenix’s or Maricopa County’s.

Federal rules that ride along

Whichever agency issues the voucher, your base share comes from 24 CFR 5.628, usually 30% of monthly adjusted income. A voucher must give you at least 60 days to search (24 CFR 982.303), and the agency must extend it if you need more time as a disability accommodation. Expect an inspection before move-in, an income review at least yearly, and the option to port elsewhere after any first-year residency hold for nonresident applicants (24 CFR 982.353).

Arizona eviction timelines for voucher tenants

Arizona’s notice periods are short. Under A.R.S. § 33-1368, a notice for nonpayment gives you five days to pay; a general material breach notice must allow at least ten days to cure; and a breach of § 33-1341 that materially affects health and safety can carry a five-day notice.

The voucher adds a second layer. 24 CFR 982.310 limits the grounds to serious or repeated lease violations, violations of law and other good cause, and says the owner “may only evict the tenant from the unit by instituting a court action.” Your housing authority missing its payment is not grounds to evict you.

Worked example: Marisol moves from Tucson to Phoenix

Marisol applied to Tucson’s list in 2023 and is still waiting in late 2026. With about 660 vouchers turning over each year against more than 40,000 applicants, she adds herself to Phoenix’s list the next time it opens, which federal rules allow.

Phoenix issues her a voucher in 2027. Her adjusted income is $1,800 a month, so 30% puts her share at $540. A Phoenix landlord’s ad says “No Section 8.” Because Phoenix protects source of income, she can file with the Equal Opportunity Department, but only within one year of the refusal.

A year later she pays her share late. Under § 33-1368(B), the landlord’s written nonpayment notice gives her five days to pay. Paying within that window ends the problem. If she does not, the landlord must still file in court and show a ground allowed by 982.310.

Applying in Arizona: a checklist

List every agency within reach of where you work, using HUD’s directory, and note which lists are open.
Set up portal accounts ahead of time; Tucson tracks updates through its Applicant Portal.
Gather pay stubs, bank information, SSI or SNAP letters, Social Security cards and proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status, which HUD lists as commonly requested.
Run your numbers in our Section 8 rent calculator.

Our how Section 8 works explainer covers the briefing, the Request for Tenancy Approval and lease-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a landlord in Mesa or Scottsdale refuse my voucher?

State law does not stop it, because § 41-1491.14 omits source of income. Phoenix and Tucson’s ordinances apply only inside those cities, so check whether your suburb has adopted its own rule.

Did the state attorney general strike down Tucson’s ordinance?

No. The City of Tucson says Attorney General Kristin Mayes reversed her predecessor’s decision and concluded the ordinance does not violate state law or the Arizona Constitution.

Tucson’s list is closed. Am I still on it?

Yes, if you applied before it closed on January 1, 2026. The city says current applicants remain on the list but must keep contact, household and income details updated in the Applicant Portal.

Is Maricopa County’s waitlist open?

HAMC announced it would close all open property waitlists effective 8:00 a.m. on December 1, 2026. Call 602-744-4500 or check its notices page for the current schedule.

How long does an Arizona voucher tenant have to fix a lease violation?

Generally at least ten days under § 33-1368(A), or five days for a health-and-safety breach under § 33-1341. Nonpayment notices allow five days to pay.

This guide is general information, not legal advice; LSC’s get legal help page lists Arizona legal aid programs. Next, read the Arizona eviction process and Arizona security deposit law guides, or compare states on the Section 8 rules by state hub.

Sources

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