Written by Chicago Affordable Housing Guide Editorial Team · Edited by Chicago Affordable Housing Guide Editorial Team · Corrections policy
Article summary
The City of Chicago publishes an annual table of income and rent limits used by affordable housing programs across the city. The 2026 table took effect May 1, 2026. These figures are maximums — each property applies them alongside its own program rules, unit mix, and documentation requirements.
What happened: City of Chicago published its 2026 Income and Rent Limits, effective May 1, 2026.
Primary source: City of Chicago 2026 Income and Rent Limits (PDF)
Why it matters to renters
- Every ARO and many other income-restricted apartments use these maximums to decide who can apply and what rent can be charged.
- Households near a limit last year may now fall above or below it, so it is worth rechecking before applying.
Key dates
- 2026 limits effective
- May 1, 2026
- Next expected update
- Spring 2027
What happened
The City of Chicago published its 2026 table of income and rent limits, effective May 1, 2026, for the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet HUD Metro Fair Market Rent area. The table sets the maximum household income and maximum rent figures used across many of the city's affordable housing programs.
Limits are published by household size and by AMI tier — commonly 30%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of area median income.
Why it matters
Because area median income shifts every year, the dollar figure attached to a given AMI tier moves too. A household that was slightly over a limit last year is not automatically over it this year, and the reverse is also true.
The limits also drive maximum rents on income-restricted apartments, which is why some renters see modest changes in advertised rents on affordable units after the annual update.
Who may be affected
- Households preparing to apply for income-restricted or ARO apartments in 2026.
- Current residents of income-restricted apartments approaching an annual recertification.
- Renters comparing several properties that publish different AMI tiers.
How to read the table correctly
The published figures are maximums, not eligibility determinations. Many programs also apply a minimum income expectation, credit and rental history screening, and specific documentation standards.
Household size counts everyone who will live in the apartment, using the property's own definition of household. Income is generally counted gross — before taxes and deductions — and can include wages, self-employment income, benefits, and certain recurring support.
Next steps for renters
Start with the household-size row that matches your household, then find your AMI tier. Our income limits page reproduces the full 2026 table with the source and effective date labeled on each section.
Next steps
- Review the full 2026 income limits table with sources labeled.
- Estimate your approximate AMI band with the Chicago AMI calculator.
- Use the program finder to see which programs may be worth exploring.
Official sources
We summarize official announcements in our own words. Confirm all dates and requirements directly with the source.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 2026 limits mean I now qualify?
Not on their own. The limits are income maximums. Each property also applies its own screening criteria, minimum income expectations, and documentation requirements.
When do the limits change again?
The City typically publishes an updated table each spring. We update this article rather than publishing a new one each time.
Editorial standards for this story
- Last reviewed: July 2026
- Last updated: July 20, 2026
- Written by: Chicago Affordable Housing Guide Editorial Team
- Edited by: Chicago Affordable Housing Guide Editorial Team
- Corrections policy: How we handle corrections
- Corrections: Report outdated information
Update history
- July 2026: Reviewed against the published PDF; no figure changes.
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