24 C.F.R. § 5.601
§ 5.601 Purpose and applicability. (24 CFR Part 5)
Operative Text
This subpart states HUD requirements on the following subjects: (a) Determining annual and adjusted income of families who apply for or receive assistance in the Section 8 (tenant-based and project-based) and public housing programs; (b) Determining payments by and utility reimbursements to families assisted in these programs; (c) Additional occupancy requirements that apply to the Section 8 project-based assistance programs. These additional requirements concern: (1) Income-eligibility and income-targeting when a Section 8 owner admits families to a Section 8 project or unit; (2) Owner selection preferences; and (3) Owner reexamination of family income and composition; (d) Determining adjusted income, as provided in § 5.611(a) and (c) through (e), for families who apply for or receive assistance under the following programs: Section 202 Supportive Housing Program for the Elderly (24 CFR 891, subpart B); Section 202 Direct Loans for Housing for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (24 CFR part 891, subpart E); and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (24 CFR part 891, subpart C). Unless specified in the regulations for each of the programs listed in this paragraph (d) or in another regulatory section of this part 5, subpart F, then the regulations in part 5, subpart F, generally are not applicable to these programs; and (e) Limitations on eligibility for assistance based on assets, as provided in § 5.618, in the Section 8 (tenant-based and project-based) and public housing programs.
Section 5.601 of 24 CFR Part 5 establishes the scope and purpose of HUD's rules governing income determinations, rent calculations, and utility reimbursements for families participating in Section 8 tenant-based, Section 8 project-based, and public housing programs. It also extends certain adjusted-income rules to Section 202 and Section 811 supportive housing programs, though those programs are otherwise largely exempt from the broader subpart F regulations unless specifically stated. Additionally, this provision sets the framework for asset-based eligibility limitations under § 5.618 and outlines extra occupancy requirements—such as income targeting and owner selection preferences—that apply specifically to Section 8 project-based assistance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and owners participating in Section 8 project-based, tenant-based, or public housing programs should be aware that § 5.601 defines the regulatory framework under which HUD governs income determinations, rent and utility calculations, and occupancy requirements for their properties. Compliant operators in Section 8 project-based programs generally maintain procedures for income-eligibility screening, income targeting, and periodic reexamination of family income and composition as outlined in this subpart. Owners of Section 202 or Section 811 properties should note that only the adjusted-income provisions referenced in § 5.601(d) apply to their programs, and they typically verify which additional subpart F rules, if any, are incorporated by their program-specific regulations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 5.601, tenants and applicants in Section 8 or public housing programs have a right to have their annual and adjusted income calculated according to HUD's established rules, which also govern how their rent contributions and any utility reimbursements are determined. Families in Section 202 or Section 811 supportive housing programs are covered by a narrower set of these rules, specifically those related to adjusted income as referenced in § 5.601(d). Tenants who believe their income was calculated incorrectly or that program rules were misapplied can generally raise this as a concern through their local housing authority's grievance process, a HUD regional office complaint, or by consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with federal housing assistance programs.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.